Air travel complaints are up nearly 270% above pre-pandemic levels

Air Travel Services Complaints It jumped nearly 270% from pre-pandemic levels in June 2019, according to an Air Travel Consumer Report released by the Department of Transportation (DOT) on Friday.

The Department of Transportation received more than 5,800 service complaints in June, an increase of nearly 270% over the more than 1,500 complaints received in the same month of 2019. According to the report, there were more than 28,500 complaints to the Department of Transportation in the first six months of 2022, Which is a 27.8% jump over the same period in 2021 and over the whole of 2019.

The Department of Transportation reported that from May to June, the number of service complaints increased by nearly 35%. More than half of the complaints received in June, about 58%, were against US airlines.

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The Department of Transportation said more than 1,600 service complaints in June – nearly 29% – were related to flight cancellations, delays or other deviations from carriers’ schedules. About 24% of June’s complaints are about refunds.

Airlines She has been suffering from flight disruptions caused by bad weatherStaff shortages and air traffic control issues this month. They have worked to combat the disruptions by taking steps such as boosting staffing and training and adjusting flight and crew schedules.

DOT classified Alaska Airlines, Delta Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines as the three marketing companies with the highest on-time arrivals in June. The three marketing firms with the lowest decliners were Allegiant Air, JetBlue and Frontier, according to DOT.

More than 3,100 flights were delayed, canceled on Tuesday

Airlines canceled about 3% of domestic flights in June, compared to 1.6% in June 2021 and 2.1% in June 2019. The number of flights operated in June was about 86% of the number in June 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Ministry of Transport.

Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Frontier had the lowest marketing rates for canceled flights in June, while Americanand Delta and united It got the highest percentage, according to the DOT. United indicated to FOX Business that it had the lowest cancellation rate for June (3.5%) among the Big Three carriers.

“Delta is focused on strong operational performance, including recovering quickly and responsibly when factors such as weather and air traffic control programs affect our operations. Of the more than 20,000 Deltas and Delta Connections running over the last weekend in August, 15 were Only canceled worldwide, a spokesperson for Delta told FOX Business Network.

Photos from Alaska Airlines show a metal plate breaking away from the plane

“Southwest Airlines Southwest Airlines charted the most passengers among U.S. airlines while leading all marketing airlines in overall customer satisfaction for the month of June and year to date, as identified in the DOT report,” Southwest Airlines said in a statement to FOX Business. We are proud that the data reflects the dedicated work of our employees to deliver our legendary Southwest hospitality every day.”

A Southwest Airlines commercial plane approaches landing at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California on January 18, 2022. (Reuters/Mike Blake/Reuters)

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sent letters to 10 US airline executives earlier in August, calling the increase in flight disruptions across the country “unacceptable.”

American Airlines, a trade association representing Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue and others, told FOX Business that it “strives to provide the highest level of customer service” and “wants to travelers For a safe, smooth and positive travel experience. “Airlines are working with stakeholders to overcome a tight job market and other challenges as they emerge from the height of the pandemic, the trade association said.

IATA, Frontier, Allegiant, JetBlue and American had not responded to FOX Business’s request for comment by press time.