A US Department of Transportation inspector has called for a standard definition of 'arrival' as on-time arrival becomes the latest hotly-contested issue among US majors.
The call for a clearer policy came as some majors accused other airlines - most notably Southwest Airlines - of fudging the manually collected arrival time data they supply to the DOT. Most airlines collect data via an automatic electronic system.
Reports from the 10 largest US airlines are now published monthly by the DOT as the Air Travel Consumer Report, which lists the carriers in order of performance.
Southwest came in first in 1997, but drops to fifth place in the latest list, published in April for the month of February 1998, as the battle for first place intensifies. American Airlines tops the list, with US Airways second and Northwest Airlines third. Carriers now attach huge importance to improving their standing in the list as they believe that lucrative business passengers take note of the rankings.
DOT inspector general Kenneth Mead notes in his report that there is no evidence that any carrier has been submitting false data. But he recommends there be a single definition of 'arrival' - the opening of the aircraft's passenger door at the gate - and that the consumer report should state whether an airline uses an automated or a manual reporting system.
Continental Airlines, eighth in the February ratings, is welcoming the recommendations and has responded with a dig at Southwest. 'An automated system clearly is superior to a system that relies on a Mickey Mouse watch and a cocktail napkin,' sniffs the airline.
Source: Airline Business
