Thread: US Airlines On-Time Drops to 79%. What Gives?

average occupancy on all the major U.S. airlines topped 85 percent in June - which means it can take longer for passengers to get on and off the plane

Yep. Plus the compound effect of cancellations takes hold. If the average flight is 85% full, it's hard to re-route pax onto other flights. Then you end up with pandemonium at the gate for the next flight to the same destination, which makes the flight late, which then potentially creates more downstream delays.

From my perspective, it's all driven by the relative flatness in airfares over time. Over the last 15 years or so, costs are up for airlines, especially wages and fuel. Fares, however, are flat (relative to inflation). Less margin means they have to make money somehow, which turns into unpleasant things like baggage fees, change fees, etc...and of course, higher load factors.