How often do Pa. airports run on time? Here’s how Harrisburg, State College stack up

A new report indicates several Pennsylvania airports, including University Park Airport, are doing relatively well keeping departures on time despite industry-wide staffing and other struggles.

The federal Office of Aviation Consumer Protection released its latest Air Travel Consumer Report in August and said 82.9% of departures from University Park Airport in State College (SCE) ran on time in June. The report counted a flight as “on-time” if it operated within 15 minutes of its scheduled time.

The Air Travel Consumer Report said 76.5% of arrivals to SCE were on time, and although the airport is small, SCE reported 34 arrivals and 35 departures for the month.

Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) had an on-time departure rate of 73.2%, and 73.5% of arrivals to the airport were on time. MDT reported 446 arrivals and 447 departures in June.

Which airlines have the highest on-time arrival rates?

SCE offers flights through Delta, American and United. Here’s how the airlines stacked up for on-time arrivals in the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection’s report:

1. Hawaiian Airlines (82.14% of arrivals were on-time, with 35,458 operations scheduled)

2. Delta Air Lines Network (80.75% of arrivals were on-time, with 721,541 operations scheduled)

3. Alaska Airlines Network (78.91% of arrivals were on-time, with 188,063 operations scheduled)

4. United Airlines Network (76.92% of arrivals were on-time, with 632,745 operations scheduled)

5. American Airlines Network (76.75% of arrivals were on-time, with 889,445 operations scheduled)

6. Southwest Airlines (73.87% of arrivals were on-time, with 614,081 operations scheduled)

7. Spirit Airlines (69.31% of arrivals were on-time, with 109,816 operations scheduled)

8. Frontier Airlines (64.5% of arrivals were on-time, with 73,382 operations scheduled)

9. JetBlue Airways (62.08% of arrivals were on-time, with 133,926 operations scheduled)

10. Allegiant Air (61.63% of arrivals were on-time, with 61,071 operations scheduled)

The networks include branded codeshare partners.

While American Airlines was in the middle of the ranking for on-time arrivals, the carrier came in last place for the rate of bags mishandled. Here’s the baggage handling ranking, from the lowest portion of bags mishandled to the highest:

1. Allegiant Air (0.16 bags mishandled per 100 enplaned)

2. Hawaiian Airlines (0.31)

3. Frontier Airlines (0.36)

4. Southwest Airlines (0.45)

5. Spirit Airlines (0.48)

6. Delta Air Lines Network (0.61)

7. United Airlines Network (0.66)

8. JetBlue Airways (0.7)

9. Alaska Airlines Network (0.72)

10. American Airlines Network (0.87)

Ways to avoid travel delays at airports

Travel company AAA offers tips to travelers on how to avoid flight delays. Best practices include booking flights departing earlier in the day, giving yourself ample time (at least an hour) to make connections and planning to arrive at your destination earlier than necessary in case you are delayed.

Airports tend to be less busy on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, AAA says, so it may help to book travel on those days if it works with your schedule.

Meredith Howard

Belleville News-Democrat

Meredith Howard is a service journalist with the Belleville News-Democrat. She is a Baylor University graduate and has previously freelanced with the Illinois Times and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Support my work with a digital subscription