Just because a flight arrives 'on time' doesn't mean it got there fast. A Forbes analysis based on when blocks come off the wheels ranks the truly zippiest airlines
n a balmy 74-degree afternoon in early May, Southwest Flight 2275 from Los Angeles touched down in Las Vegas, ushering its six dozen passengers into the gambling mecca. The 57-minute flight wasn’t just on time—it was almost as fast as an airliner can fly that route, in keeping with a top-notch efficiency rating that makes the airline No.
One airline that comes out looking dramatically better by this measure than the DOT on-time stats is Dallas-based Southwest Airlines. In 2018, Southwest’s domestic flights averaged 12.5 minutes above the minimum achievable times on each route it flew, ranking it second among the ten mainline carriers. Under the DOT’s on-time arrivals ranking, it was fifth. Its efficiency index average is doubly impressive given the scale of Southwest’s operations: it’s the largest domestic carrier with 1.
Southwest pilots also have a reputation of being freer with the throttle to make up time in circumstances where other airlines prefer not to burn more fuel, says Michael Baiada, a former United captain and consultant. “Their pilots are more aggressive, they’re not afraid to fly faster,” he says.* Standard deviation is a measure of how widely performance varies from the average – about 68% of flights were within this number of minutes from the Efficiency Index average.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
United Airlines flight skids off runway at Newark Liberty International AirportA United Airlines flight skidded off a runway at Newark Liberty International Airport, according to the FAA.
Read more »
Iranian officials blame U.S., Israel for tanker attacks as Washington struggles to build anti-Tehran consensusThe speaker of the Iranian parliament said the 'suspicious' attacks may have been a way for the U.S. to apply more pressure on Tehran.
Read more »
What Lies Behind Rising U.S.-Iran TensionsAs Iran steps up its nuclear enrichment program—days after it apparently attacked two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman—what the world is seeing isn’t so much a march toward war, but rather a battle for leverage.
Read more »
Huawei Expects $30 Billion Revenue Hit From U.S. ClampdownThe U.S. campaign against Huawei is taking a toll, with the company’s founder forecasting a hit to revenue of about $30 billion over the next two years.
Read more »
Guns N’ Roses Extend U.S. ‘Not in This Lifetime’ TourFall trek continues partial classic-era reunion featuring Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan
Read more »
U.S. 'probably had excellent presidents who were gay,' Buttigieg saysIf South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg wins the 2020 election, he’ll be the first openly gay man to serve as president. But he says he’s “almost certain” he wouldn’t be the first gay president in U.S. history.
Read more »