Number of US flights last year down 40 per cent

The number of US flights operated last year was at its lowest level since records began.

Airlines operated only 4.7 million flights last year compared to 7.9 million flights in 2019.

That is the lowest since the Department of Transportation began collecting the data in 1987.

The DOT report says airlines operated 40% fewer flights during last year with April and May at the lowest point with about 66% fewer services.

The report says the number of cancellations rose to 6% due to the uncertainty and haphazard travel restrictions during the early days of the pandemic.

A year earlier the cancellation rate was just 1.9%.

It said Allegiant had the highest cancellation rate at 14.5%.

Due to less crowded airports and quieter skies, airlines did improve on a couple of metrics.

On-time performance improved, as did the rate of mishandled bags.

Written by Ray Montgomery, US Editor