A discussion about the airline industry, airline employees, and all things related

After a month of massive cancellations that left 2,300 flights grounded (4.9 percent of their schedule), the nation’s number 2 carrier is apologizing to passengers.  United Airlines said that they faced the worst December weather in their 80 year history. 

The massive cancellations and delays will most certainly drag down the carrier.  Less than half of their flights arrived on time in December and those delayed averaged over 60 minutes. 

United was not the only carrier to cancel flights but others were not so drastic.  American Airlines, which also operates a sizable hub at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, cancelled 3.3 percent of their flights.  Delta cancelled just over 2.0 percent of their flights and both Northwest and Continental cancelled fewer than 2.0 percent of their flights. 

"It was a tough winter weather month for all the industry," said Julie King, a spokeswoman for Houston-based Continental Airlines Inc.

But the Air Line Pilot’s Association is humming a different tune. 

"Obviously weather was the triggering factor, but the fact of the matter is that in December, the company played Russian roulette with the schedule and the passengers lost," said Capt. Todd Daniels, a San Francisco-based United pilot who is a spokesman for the union. 

The Chicago based carrier said that it does not regret shuttling passengers late into the night, that left more cancellations later in the month due to government regulations regarding the amount of time crews can work.   

Chicago Tribune