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The new US Airways continues to trump its competitors in on-time performance but ranks worst in the industry for customer complaints.The Tempe-based airline, formed by last fall's merger of America West and bankrupt US Airways, ranked third of 19 carriers in April, according to the monthly Air Travel Consumer Report from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Nearly 83 percent of its flights arrived on time. Hawaiian was No. 1, as it always is, at 90.9 percent, followed by commuter carrier Comair at 84.1 percent. Southwest Airlines, the second-busiest carrier at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport after US Airways, ranked fifth, at 79.7 percent. Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group, a regional airline that operates as US Airways Express and other commuter carriers, ranked ninth, at 76.8 percent.
US Airways employees will get a $50 bonus for the on-time showing.
The airline pays the bonus if it ranks in the top three among its self-described peer group of 10 large airlines. It excludes carriers like Hawaiian and all regional carriers. On that basis, it was first in on-time performance in April. This will be its sixth consecutive payout.
Employees also can earn awards if US Airways has the fewest customer complaints, but the airline hasn't come close in that category since the merger.
The old US Airways has had a high number of complaints since its baggage meltdown in December 2004, and the numbers don't appear to be improving much.
In April, the level of customer complaints increased compared with a year ago. US Airways had 1.41 complaints per 100,000 passenger boardings, up from 1.39 in April 2004. For the first quarter, it was second from last, though the rate of complaints was significantly lower. Southwest had the fewest customer complaints, at 0.17 per 100,000 boardings.
US Airways did show improvement in baggage handling, a chronic problem area, ranking 13th among 19 carriers.
It had 7.41 bag mishaps per 1,000 passengers, vs. 13.37 a year ago.
AZ Central
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