busy airport
It’s summer, and in the United States, that means traveling. The US is big, and the most time-efficient way to cover distance is flying. Fortunately, there is a plethora of choices. However, the scale of the market makes it susceptible to disruptions. So far, travel has been pretty good. Even the TSA has been helpful, dismissing the shoe removal routine.
What does air travel look like, and is there any history to help guide a savvy traveler? Why yes, there is.
Using the US DOT On-Time data, we compiled a model showing industry performance in detail. Starting in 2020 and continuing through April this year, we offer a visual showing flight cancellations. The model also allows you to dig deep into the data. You can track an airline, an airplane type, a tail number, and even see that aircraft’s monthly performance.
There are two pages.
- Page one – a summary page listing industry performance. As with all our models, click anywhere to filter the image. i.e., click an airline to see its performance.
- Page two – Use the menu on top to select an airline. As with our other models, green is relatively good. If you see a red number, you can click it to drill down. On the right, the table lists the performance of whatever you select. You can drill down to a tail number.
This model provides a detailed look at the US airline fleet, including the major regional airlines. There’s nothing you can do when your flight is delayed or cancelled. You have no power in this relationship. But when you face one of these misfortunes, try to find the aircraft’s tail number. This model can help you discover its history – does it go out of service more frequently than its peers?
One last thing, if you use a flight tracker on your phone, try looking up your aircraft’s information. Is it on time? These tools are helpful because, even if they can’t solve the disruption, being informed allows you to plan around it. The only power you have is information and acting on it.
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