US airline service continues to plummet

US Airline service deteriorated this year in all four areas surveyed, including on-time arrival, baggage handling and complaints.

A recent report by two college-based researchers found only four of 14 carriers showed an improvement last year.

The four who performed better were United, Air Tran, Jet Blue and Southeast Airlines, according to the 15th annual Airline Quality Rating survey.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the report found the quality of air travel is deteriorating because more people are flying at a time when airlines have cut back on work forces.

“Morale’s going to be down, and they’re not going to care if they get the bags to the loading dock in five minutes, 10 minutes or 15 minutes,” said Dean Headley, a co-author of the report and an assistant professor at Wichita State University.

The seven largest carriers employed 12% fewer people this January than they did the year before, the US Transportation Department reported.

US Airways showed the biggest decline in service.

The Airline Quality Rating is compiled from Department of Transportation figures by Mr. Headley and Brent Bowen, director of the University of Nebraska’s aviation institute.

Report by David Wilkening