US DOT Released New Data on Delays, Cancellations, and Baggage: What to Check Before Summer Flights

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Marta Skylar
Aviation News Editor
28.07.2026 06:29

US DOT Released New Data on Delays, Cancellations, and Baggage: What to Check Before Summer Flights

The US Department of Transportation published the June Air Travel Consumer Report with data for April 2026 on June 12. For tourists, this is not just statistics: the report shows which risks should be considered before summer travels within the United States, transfers through major hubs, and purchasing connecting tickets.

The main conclusion of the report is quite practical: the American aviation market in April operated noticeably better than in the worst periods of recent years, but there is no room for careless planning. According to DOT data, 79.2% of flights reporting to the regulator arrived on time, based on marketing carrier networks. This means that approximately every fifth flight did not meet the standard punctuality threshold, and for passengers with short connections, such a difference can be decisive.

The report is important right now because it was released at the beginning of the peak summer season. Summer in the US traditionally combines high domestic demand, thunderstorms, congested hubs, more expensive tickets, and a high percentage of family trips. For foreign tourists, an additional factor is transfers through large American airports, where a delay of one segment can disrupt the entire itinerary. Therefore, April data should be viewed not as a guarantee of future punctuality, but as an early indicator of where passengers need a time buffer.

What the New DOT Report Showed

The Air Travel Consumer Report covers several blocks: flight punctuality, cancellations, tarmac delays, mishandled baggage, wheelchairs and scooters, oversales, passenger complaints, and separate reports on animals during air travel. According to DOT methodology, a flight is considered on time if it arrived less than 15 minutes later than scheduled.

In April 2026, the best punctuality rate among marketing networks was Alaska Airlines Network - 83.7%. This was followed by Delta Air Lines Network at 83.1%, United Airlines Network at 79.3%, and American Airlines Network at 78.4%. Lower among major carriers were Southwest Airlines at 77.3%, Allegiant Air and JetBlue Airways at 75.6%, Frontier Airlines at 73.1%, and Spirit Airlines at 63.0%.

These figures should not be taken as a universal rating of "good" and "bad" airlines. The result is influenced by the route network, weather, the share of short domestic flights, concentration in congested hubs, and how many flights are operated by codeshare partners. But for the traveler, they are useful as a signal: if the itinerary consists of two to three segments or includes an evening transfer, the risk of accumulated delays should be factored in during booking.

Cancellations Remain Manageable, but Not Zero

For April, the DOT recorded 660,674 scheduled flight operations in marketing carrier reporting and 5,877 cancelled operations. This represents about 0.9% of the total volume. The lowest cancellation percentages in the table were JetBlue Airways and Allegiant Air - about 0.1%, while Spirit Airlines showed 3.4%.

For a tourist, not only the probability of cancellation is important, but also how easy it is to rebook. On saturated routes between major cities, an alternative may appear on the same day. On regional routes, seasonal flights, or routes with low frequency, the cancellation of one segment often means a night in a transit city, a hotel change, loss of the first day of the tour, or the need to buy a more expensive ticket from another airline.

That is why for travels through major hubs, it is worth checking not only the price but also a backup scenario: how many flights per day are on the required route, whether they are operated by the same airline or a partner, whether the fare allows quick rebooking, and if there is an alternative airport nearby. If the route goes through Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), New York JFK, Newark (EWR) or Atlanta (ATL), it is useful to check the current flight status via the online board of the respective airport before heading to the terminal.

Tarmac Delays: Rare, but Painful for Passengers

A separate block of the report concerns long tarmac delays. In April, the DOT indicated four domestic flights with on-board delays over three hours and three international flights with delays over four hours in the US. Among the international cases were an EVA Air flight from Taipei to Chicago, which had the longest tarmac delay of 5 hours 45 minutes at the diversion point Indianapolis, a Cathay Pacific flight from Los Angeles to Hong Kong with 4 hours 43 minutes in Honolulu, and a United flight from Chicago to London Heathrow with 4 hours 6 minutes at the departure airport.

Such episodes do not mean that a specific airport or carrier is dangerous for planning. But they remind us that an international route with a distant transfer can depend on many variables: weather, airspace, technical readiness of the aircraft, service load, and the ability to quickly accept passengers in case of diversion. For flights through ORD or LAX, a particularly careful approach to connections should be taken, as these hubs serve a large flow of transcontinental and international flights. Current status can be checked via the ORD online board or LAX online board.

Baggage Statistics Improved, but Carry-on Luggage Doesn't Solve Everything

Good news from the report - the baggage situation in April looked better than last year. According to the marketing carrier table, 131,660 cases of mishandled baggage were recorded for 36.57 million registered bags, or 0.36 cases per 100 bags. In April 2025, the corresponding indicator was 0.43 per 100 bags. In the operational carrier table, the overall indicator was also 0.36 per 100 bags.

The lowest rate according to the marketing table was Allegiant Air - 0.13 cases per 100 bags. JetBlue Airways showed 0.24, Delta Air Lines Network - 0.25, Southwest Airlines - 0.26. Higher rates were in United Airlines Network - 0.52, Frontier Airlines - 0.49, American Airlines Network - 0.43, and Spirit Airlines - 0.43. However, comparing airlines solely by this table should be done carefully: different networks have different shares of transfers, regional partners, and types of baggage.

For the passenger, the practical conclusion is simple: the most important things should not be placed in checked baggage. Documents, medicines, chargers, items for the first day, valuables, glasses, baby items, and a basic set of clothes are better kept in the cabin. If the trip includes a cruise, wedding, conference, or tour with a fixed start, it is worth leaving at least one night of buffer between arrival and the event.

Passengers with Reduced Mobility Should Check Service in Advance

The DOT also separately counts wheelchairs and scooters. In April 2026, operational carriers transported 69,695 such devices and recorded 694 cases of mishandling, which is 1.00 per 100. Compared to April 2025, the overall indicator almost did not change: it was 1.01 per 100.

This block is especially important because damage or delay of a wheelchair for a passenger is not a typical baggage inconvenience. It is a matter of mobility, safety, and independence after arrival. If the trip requires assistance at the airport, it is advisable to order it immediately after buying the ticket, re-confirm it 48 hours before the flight, and clarify it again during online check-in. In case of a connection, it is worth avoiding overly short transfers, especially in large American hubs.

Complaints: Most Issues Regarding Refunds and Schedules

In April, the DOT received 7,278 complaints, 8 compliments, and 57 comments related to air travel. Of these, 4,839 complaints concerned American airlines, 2,061 - foreign airlines, and 378 - travel agents. The largest category was refunds: 2,296 complaints. This was followed by schedule problems - 1,323 complaints, including cancellations, delays, missed connections, and tarmac delays. Baggage accounted for 1,013 complaints.

These figures show that after the delay or cancellation itself, the most painful part for the passenger is often not the airport, but the subsequent administration: refunds, rebooking, vouchers, contact with an agent or airline, and reimbursement of expenses. That is why when buying a ticket through an intermediary, it is important to understand who will be responsible in case of failure: the agent, the airline, or both parties in different parts of the process.

Why This Is Important for Tourists in Summer 2026

The DOT report coincides with a broader context of more expensive travel. According to the June Travel Inflation Report from NerdWallet, which analyzes US consumer price index data, airfares in May 2026 were 26.7% more expensive than in May 2025, and average travel expenses overall increased by 11% year-over-year. This does not mean that every route became more expensive equally, but it means that a planning error now can cost more.

When tickets are more expensive, passengers more often choose cheaper fares with restrictions, connections instead of direct flights, or separate tickets from different airlines. Such decisions increase vulnerability to delays. If the first flight is delayed, a separate second ticket may not protect the passenger from missing a connection. If the fare does not include baggage or change of date, any failure quickly turns into additional costs.

For travels in the US this summer, the smartest strategy is not to wait for perfect punctuality, but to build an itinerary so that it can withstand a moderate failure. For domestic transfers, it is better to leave at least two hours in large hubs, and for international connections after passing control, collecting baggage, or changing terminals - even more. If arrival is critically important, it is worth flying in a day earlier.

What to Check Before Booking and on the Day of Departure

  • Choose a direct flight if the price difference is small and the event at the destination has a fixed time.
  • Do not plan minimum connections in airports with high traffic, especially in the evening or during thunderstorm season.
  • Check not only the airline but also the actual operator of the flight, because codesharing can affect rebooking and baggage.
  • Keep receipts for hotel, food, and transport in case of delay or cancellation, if you plan to demand compensation or reimbursement.
  • Keep important items in carry-on luggage and photograph baggage before checking it in.
  • On the day of the trip, check the flight status on the airline's website and on the airport's online board, for example for JFK, EWR, ATL or DFW.

Conclusion

The June DOT report does not paint a catastrophic picture, but it makes the summer warning very specific. Most flights in the US in April arrived on time, baggage statistics improved compared to last year, and the overall level of cancellations remained below 1%. At the same time, every fifth flight outside of punctuality, thousands of cancellations, long tarmac delays, and over seven thousand complaints per month show that air travel requires a time buffer, a transparent fare, and a Plan B.

For tourists, the best response to these data is not to give up on travel, but to plan them more carefully. Fly earlier in the day, avoid overly short connections, check the flight status before leaving for the airport, read the fare rules, and do not put critically important items in checked baggage. Such simple decisions often separate a regular delay from a ruined vacation.

Sources: U.S. Department of Transportation, Air Travel Consumer Report, June 2026; full DOT PDF report; Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Airline On-Time Tables; NerdWallet Travel Inflation Report, June 2026; U.S. PIRG Education Fund, Plane Truth 2026.