new york
CNN
—
The flying experience in the United States improved significantly last year, as cancellation rates fell to their lowest levels in at least a decade.
According to 2023 statistics released by the Department of Transportation, the total cancellation rate of 16.3 million flights in the United States was less than 1.2%, the “lowest rate in a decade.”
The same figure for 2022 was 2.3%, the second highest cancellation amount in the last 10 years, according to DOT statistics. The cancellation rate in 2014 was 2.4%, the highest in the past 10 years.
Holiday air travel over the past few weeks has also been “remarkably successful,” with a cancellation rate of just 0.8% from December 17, 2023 to January 1, 2024, the Department of Transport said, with passenger numbers at “record high numbers.” ” he added.
This is significantly lower than the 8.2% cancellation rate for the same period in 2022, due to a major winter storm that disrupted travel plans.
“Thanks to the tireless efforts of our nation’s aviation safety experts, millions of travelers were able to fly safely and without disruption last year,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. press release.
Over the past year, airlines have ramped up hiring. Employment in the sector is now at its highest level in more than two decades as travel rebounds following the coronavirus pandemic and global lockdowns.
The Biden administration also announced new rules in May 2023 that would require airlines to compensate and cover costs for customers who experience flight cancellations or delays.
Despite the rosy numbers, problems still plague the U.S. airline industry, including an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers and aging technology used by airlines.