Is Air Travel Getting Worse? More delays, fewer accidents, and lower prices
9 days ago
- #delays
- #safety
- #air-travel
- Long delays have become much more common, with a 3-hour delay being 4x more likely in 2024 than in 1990.
- Airlines have masked the increase in delays by padding scheduled flight times, making flights appear to be early when they are actually taking longer.
- Air travel remains safe, with accidents continuing on a slow downward trend.
- Airfare has become much cheaper over the past 10 years, with prices growing less than overall CPI.
- ATC staffing shortages and strict occupational licensure laws contribute to rising delays.
- Airlines increasingly rely on credit card loyalty programs for profits, shifting focus away from transportation services.
- Increased congestion at airports, due to more passengers and stagnant infrastructure, exacerbates delays.
- Regulatory changes in 2009 led to airlines padding schedules to avoid penalties for unrealistic scheduling and chronic delays.