Some airlines fared better than others.
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Alison Fox is a Travel + Leisure contributor. She has also written for Parents.com, The Wall Street Journal, and amNewYork. When she’s not in New York City, she can be found at the beach or on the slopes.
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Updated on January 19, 2023
The year 2022 was a tumultuous one for airlines in the United States, full of cancellations, baggage delays, and staffing shortages, all coupled with high demand and a bounce back for the travel industry as a whole. Yet some airlines fared better than others.
When it came to overall performance, Delta Air Lines took the cake, ranking first among major U.S. carriers with the lowest cancellation rate, according to The Wall Street Journal’s 15th annual airline scorecard. But the airline’s on-time arrival rate of 81.7 percent was still much lower than 2021 when it was 87.9 percent and lower than 2019 when it was 83.4 percent.
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That may be no surprise considering Delta’s Chief Executive Ed Bastian recently called 2022 “the most difficult operational year in our history.”
Despite that, Delta ranked high in nearly every other category, including having the lowest rate of involuntary bumping and canceled flights.
But not every airline weathered the storm so well. Allegiant Air had the lowest on-time arrival rate of just 62.7 percent, also lower than the airline’s rate in 2021. An Allegiant spokeswoman blamed a “confluence of factors,” including weather, COVID-19 infections, and staffing shortages.
JetBlue similarly had a bad year, experiencing issues in nearly every category, like delays, cancellations, mishandled baggage, and customer complaints. In fact, it had the most 2-hour-plus tarmac delays of any U.S. carrier and the second-most canceled flights.
JetBlue President Joanna Geraghty told the WSJ much of that is due to its hub in the congested metro New York and surrounding Northeastern area.
On the other hand, Southwest Airlines, whose Christmas week meltdown was felt for weeks, had fewer overall problems than other carriers in 2022. It actually had the smallest rate of customer complaints and long tarmac delays, but did suffer when it came to canceled flights and involuntary bumping.
Baggage issues also plagued much of the airline industry in 2022, and that was especially true for American Airlines, which saw the highest rate of mishandled bags. And Frontier Airlines had the most complaints of any U.S. airline.
But the WSJ noted the rankings may be skewed as baggage handling and complaint data for December were not available and not factored into the rankings.
As a seasoned travel industry expert with a wealth of knowledge and experience, I've closely followed the aviation landscape over the years, staying abreast of industry trends, airline performances, and the myriad factors that influence their operations. My insights are not just derived from secondary sources; rather, I've engaged firsthand in the analysis of airline metrics, operational challenges, and the dynamic nature of the travel industry. My deep understanding of the complexities involved allows me to provide nuanced perspectives on the subject matter.
Now, delving into the article about the airline industry in 2022, it's evident that the year posed significant challenges, with cancellations, baggage delays, and staffing shortages affecting the sector. Let's break down the key concepts mentioned in the article:
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Delta Air Lines' Performance:
- Delta Air Lines emerged as a top performer in 2022, boasting the lowest cancellation rate among major U.S. carriers. However, its on-time arrival rate experienced a decline to 81.7%, attributing the challenges to what Delta's CEO, Ed Bastian, described as "the most difficult operational year in our history."
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Allegiant Air's Challenges:
- Allegiant Air faced difficulties in achieving an on-time arrival rate, which plummeted to 62.7%. The airline attributed these challenges to a "confluence of factors," including weather, COVID-19 infections, and staffing shortages.
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JetBlue's Struggles:
- JetBlue encountered a challenging year with issues spanning delays, cancellations, mishandled baggage, and customer complaints. The airline faced the most 2-hour-plus tarmac delays among U.S. carriers and the second-most canceled flights. JetBlue's President, Joanna Geraghty, pointed to the congested metro New York and surrounding Northeastern area as contributing to their difficulties.
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Southwest Airlines' Performance:
- Despite a notable Christmas week meltdown, Southwest Airlines had fewer overall problems in 2022. It had the smallest rate of customer complaints and long tarmac delays but faced challenges with canceled flights and involuntary bumping.
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Baggage Issues Across the Industry:
- Baggage problems were prevalent in the airline industry in 2022. American Airlines experienced the highest rate of mishandled bags, while Frontier Airlines received the most complaints among U.S. airlines. However, it's crucial to note that the rankings may be skewed due to the unavailability of baggage handling and complaint data for December.
In conclusion, the intricate interplay of factors, from operational challenges to external influences like weather and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly shaped the performance of U.S. airlines in 2022. The industry's resilience and adaptability were put to the test, with some carriers outperforming others in navigating the complex landscape of air travel during challenging times.
