Latest news with #punctuality
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why are airlines changing check-in rules?
If you're traveling this summer, brace yourself for an important shift in airport check-in rules. Airlines are updating their check-in deadlines in real-time, signaling a new era of tighter airport schedules in hopes of improving on-time departures. But what exactly do these new check-in policies mean for you as a traveler? Why are they happening now? And what can you do to make sure you don't miss your flight? Earlier this year, Delta Air Lines adjusted its domestic check-in cutoff from 30 minutes to 45 minutes before departure for most U.S. flights. International flights still require check-in at least 60 minutes before departure, but the window to check bags has also tightened in some airports. This week, United Airlines silently updated their check-in policy: passengers must now check in no later than 45 minutes prior to takeoff for domestic flights. The airline said the change aims to bring greater consistency across its operations and align more closely with other major carriers. These aren't isolated updates. Other carriers, including American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, have also been reinforcing existing policies or sending reminders to travelers about the importance of early arrival, indicating a broader industry push toward punctuality. The move to stricter check-in policies isn't arbitrary. Airlines are facing mounting pressure to improve on-time performance and reduce costly delays, especially as travel rebounds post-pandemic. Here's why it matters: Tighter schedules, bigger crowds: With more flights and fuller planes, a few late passengers can trigger a domino effect of delays, costing airlines money and frustrating travelers. Gate congestion: Airlines want to avoid last-minute baggage drops and rebookings that cause congestion at gates and customer service desks. On-time performance metrics: The Department of Transportation (DOT) tracks and publishes on-time arrival rates. Poor performance can damage an airline's reputation and customer loyalty. In short, when passengers check in late, it doesn't just affect their own flight; it can ripple across the entire day's schedule. With airlines enforcing stricter policies, it's more important than ever to arrive early and understand the fine print of your carrier's rules. Here are a few traveler-friendly tips from Gate Access: Most airlines allow online check-in 24 hours before departure. Doing this ahead of time reduces time spent at airport kiosks and lets you spot any travel alerts. Try setting a calendar reminder on your phone to send you a notification to check in early. Doing so can also improve your boarding group for some airlines. Airlines recommend arriving at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights. This is especially critical if you're checking bags. And don't forget: TSA screening lines can be a major variable. Even with TSA PreCheck, some airports report wait times as long as 30–45 minutes during peak hours. Regular security lines can take even longer. To avoid surprises, visit your airport's website ahead of your flight; most now offer real-time TSA wait time estimates. Knowing this data can help you better plan your arrival time and reduce stress. Even if you're checked in online, bag drop counters close at the same time as check-in deadlines. Showing up late with a bag means you could be denied boarding. These apps often send push notifications with updates on gate changes, boarding times and policy changes. Ultimately, early arrival isn't just about airline check-in deadlines — it's about building in margin for TSA and other variables that can't be controlled once you step into the terminal. Awareness is key The worst time to find out you've missed the check-in window is when you're standing in front of a closed bag-drop counter. With check-in rules becoming stricter across the board, travelers can no longer believe in 'airport theory'. If you're flying Delta, United or any major U.S. carrier this year, assume you need to be checked in at least 45 minutes before departure — and ideally, much earlier. The days of rolling up to the airport 30 minutes before your flight are officially over. For families, seniors and those who need extra assistance, services like TSA Cares can help smooth the experience, offering personalized security support and expedited help through the airport. Ultimately, being informed is your best defense against delays. A few extra minutes in arrival can mean the difference between a relaxing trip and a travel nightmare.
Argaam
25-05-2025
- Business
- Argaam
GACA issues April report on airport, airline punctuality
The General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) released its monthly report on the punctuality of Saudi airports and national carriers for April 2025. The report measures performance based on departures and arrivals occurring within 15 minutes of the scheduled time and complements GACA's other monthly assessments of service quality at airports and airlines. Among international airports with more than 15 million passengers annually, Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport ranked first with a 90% compliance rate. In the category of international airports with five to 15 million passengers annually, Dammam's King Fahd International Airport topped with 87% compliance. As for international airports with two to five million passengers per year, Abha International Airport led with a 91% compliance rate. NEOM Bay International Airport took first place in the fourth category of international airports with less than two million passengers annually, with a 95% compliance rate. Meanwhile, for domestic airports, Tarif Airport led with 100% compliance. The following table breaks down the on-time departure performance of Saudi airports in April 2025: Compliance with Departure Times Category Airport Current Month Previous Month Int'l Airports (>15 mln passengers annually) King Khalid International (Riyadh) 90% 93% King Abdulaziz International (Jeddah) 78% 84% Int'l Airports (5-15 mln passengers annually) King Fahd International (Dammam) 87% 93% Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport (Madinah) 72% 85% Int'l Airports (2-5 mln passengers annually) Abha International Airport 91% 95% King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport (Jizan) 90% 95% Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport (Tabuk) 83% 90% Int'l Airports (<2 mln passengers annually) Neom Bay International Airport 95% 95% Al-Ahsa International Airport 93% 84% Hail International Airport 92% 94% Najran International Airport 90% 92% Arar International Airport 90% 94% AlUla International Airport 89% 97% Al Qaisumah International Airport 87% 88% Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport Qassim) 86% 92% Al Jouf International Airport 84% 88% Taif International Airport 82% 88% Prince Abdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Yanbu 74% 81% Domestic Airports Tarif Airport 100% 100% Wadi Al-Dawasir Airport 100% 92% King Saud bin Abdulaziz Airport (Al-Baha) 99% 100% Bisha Airport 94% 88% Al-Qurayyat Airport 83% 93% Al-Dawadmi Airport 75% 100% Sharurah Airport 75% 96% Rafha Airport 73% 97% Saudi Airlines (Saudia) topped national carriers in terms of compliance to arrival and departure flights, with 89%. Meanwhile, flynas came in second with 86% for compliance to arrivals and 91% for departures. National Carriers' Compliance to Arrival/Departure Times Carrier Arrivals Departures Current Month Previous Month Current Month Previous Month Saudia 89% 95% 89% 94% flynas 86% 91% 91% 91% Flyadeal 87% 91% 91% 94% The report showed that the Riyadh-Abha route, Riyadh-Tabuk route, and Riyadh-Dammam route topped domestic routes in terms of compliance at 96%. Compliance of Top five Domestic Routes* Route Departure Compliance in Current Month Departure Compliance in Previous Month Riyadh to Abha 96% 98% Riyadh to Tabuk 96% 98% Riyadh to Dammam 96% 95% Jizan to Riyadh 95% 95% Riyadh to Jizan 95% 97% *Selected from the 20 busiest routes. Internationally, the Riyadh-Amman route topped with a 97% compliance rate, followed by the Riyadh-Dubai route (94%). Compliance of Top Five International Routes* Route Compliance of Departure Flights Current Month Previous Month Riyadh to Amman 97% 99% Riyadh to Bahrain 94% 96% Jeddah to Amman 94% 92% Riyadh to Dubai 93% 98% Riyadh to Kuwait 92% 93% *Selected from the 20 busiest routes. GACA indicated that cancelled flights are excluded when calculating the compliance rate. The actual time is calculated when the aircraft starts moving (push back from the stand) and when it stops moving (on stand with brakes on).
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Air India ranked most delayed airline after ‘completely unacceptable' record
Air India has been ranked the worst airline for UK flight delays. The carrier's departures from UK airports were an average of 45 minutes and 48 seconds behind schedule in 2024, according to analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data by the PA news agency. The route with the longest average delay was Gatwick to Bangalore, with an average of one hour and 23 minutes across 50 departures. Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, described Air India's performance as 'completely unacceptable'. The airline said the disruption was 'primarily due to factors beyond our control'. Guernsey-based Aurigny Air Services had the second-worst punctuality record for UK departures last year, with an average delay of 31 minutes and 12 seconds. It was followed by Turkish low-cost leisure airline SunExpress (29 minutes and 36 seconds) and Air Portugal (25 minutes and 12 seconds). Irish carrier Emerald Airlines recorded the best performance last year with UK departures delayed by an average of just 10 minutes and 30 seconds. The analysis took into account all scheduled and chartered departures from UK airports by airlines operating more than 2,500 of these flights last year. Cancelled flights were not included. The average delay for all these airlines was 18 minutes and 18 seconds, down from 20 minutes and 42 seconds in 2023. Air India was acquired from the Indian government by Tata Group in January 2022 after racking up billions of pounds of losses. The airline's UK operations are at Birmingham, Gatwick and Heathrow, with routes to a number of Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Data from aviation analytics company Cirium shows the airline operated 56% more flights from UK airports last year compared with 2019. This is projected to rise to 90% this year after increasing flight frequencies on several routes in March. Aviation consultant John Strickland said there has been 'a lot of work going on to put the airline back on track' after it gained a 'poor reputation' for delays and cancellations. This was partly caused by a lack of funds to purchase spare parts for aircraft, leading to some of its fleet being grounded. Mr Strickland said: 'They're coming out of this period of malaise pre-the Tata takeover, and now have to put in work on their engineering, manpower, spare parts holding, all those factors.' He said some of Air India's promotion of its new Airbus A350 first class product has focused on the quality of its service. He noted: 'You can have great meals and a great crew, but fundamentally you've got to operate an airline which is as punctual and reliable as possible. 'That's definitely a work in progress for them.' Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, said: 'These latest delay figures will come as no surprise to travellers, who can find themselves paying sky high amounts for air fares and in return receiving unreliable services. 'Air India had an average delay of 45 minutes. This is completely unacceptable. 'It's time for airlines to get their act together and start delivering the service their customers are paying for.' A spokesperson for Air India said: 'During 2024, Air India's flights to and from the UK experienced occasional delays, primarily due to factors beyond our control. 'Proactive operational initiatives like self-check-in, baggage drop and automated boarding process have ensured smoother airport touchpoint experience and faster turnaround of aircraft, boosting on-time departures. 'The deployment of the new Airbus A350 and upgraded B787-9 aircraft on some of the UK routes has also helped enhance punctuality of our flight operations. 'Over the first three months of 2025, Air India's on-time performance has seen significant improvement on our direct flights from the UK to India, which also reflects on our NPS (customer satisfaction) scores.' Depending on the distance of the route and length of delay, passengers booked on flights from UK airports that are running behind schedule are entitled to assistance such as a reasonable amount of food and drink, a means to communicate and overnight accommodation if required. Passengers may also be able to claim compensation of up to £520 from the airline if the reason for the delay is deemed within its control, which could be a fault with the aircraft or pilot sickness. CAA head of consumers Anna Bowles said: 'We expect all airlines operating in the UK to uphold high standards of service and reliability. 'While the majority of airlines have made progress in reducing delays, with the average falling, delays can cause significant disruption and inconvenience to passengers. 'Delays occur for many reasons, and we fully expect that airlines minimise the impact by providing timely information and upholding passengers' rights when it applies.'
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Air India ranked most delayed airline after ‘completely unacceptable' record
Air India has been ranked the worst airline for UK flight delays. The carrier's departures from UK airports were an average of 45 minutes and 48 seconds behind schedule in 2024, according to analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data by the PA news agency. The route with the longest average delay was Gatwick to Bangalore, with an average of one hour and 23 minutes across 50 departures. Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, described Air India's performance as 'completely unacceptable'. The airline said the disruption was 'primarily due to factors beyond our control'. Guernsey-based Aurigny Air Services had the second-worst punctuality record for UK departures last year, with an average delay of 31 minutes and 12 seconds. It was followed by Turkish low-cost leisure airline SunExpress (29 minutes and 36 seconds) and Air Portugal (25 minutes and 12 seconds). Irish carrier Emerald Airlines recorded the best performance last year with UK departures delayed by an average of just 10 minutes and 30 seconds. The analysis took into account all scheduled and chartered departures from UK airports by airlines operating more than 2,500 of these flights last year. Cancelled flights were not included. The average delay for all these airlines was 18 minutes and 18 seconds, down from 20 minutes and 42 seconds in 2023. Air India was acquired from the Indian government by Tata Group in January 2022 after racking up billions of pounds of losses. The airline's UK operations are at Birmingham, Gatwick and Heathrow, with routes to a number of Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Data from aviation analytics company Cirium shows the airline operated 56% more flights from UK airports last year compared with 2019. This is projected to rise to 90% this year after increasing flight frequencies on several routes in March. Aviation consultant John Strickland said there has been 'a lot of work going on to put the airline back on track' after it gained a 'poor reputation' for delays and cancellations. This was partly caused by a lack of funds to purchase spare parts for aircraft, leading to some of its fleet being grounded. Mr Strickland said: 'They're coming out of this period of malaise pre-the Tata takeover, and now have to put in work on their engineering, manpower, spare parts holding, all those factors.' He said some of Air India's promotion of its new Airbus A350 first class product has focused on the quality of its service. He noted: 'You can have great meals and a great crew, but fundamentally you've got to operate an airline which is as punctual and reliable as possible. 'That's definitely a work in progress for them.' Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, said: 'These latest delay figures will come as no surprise to travellers, who can find themselves paying sky high amounts for air fares and in return receiving unreliable services. 'Air India had an average delay of 45 minutes. This is completely unacceptable. 'It's time for airlines to get their act together and start delivering the service their customers are paying for.' A spokesperson for Air India said: 'During 2024, Air India's flights to and from the UK experienced occasional delays, primarily due to factors beyond our control. 'Proactive operational initiatives like self-check-in, baggage drop and automated boarding process have ensured smoother airport touchpoint experience and faster turnaround of aircraft, boosting on-time departures. 'The deployment of the new Airbus A350 and upgraded B787-9 aircraft on some of the UK routes has also helped enhance punctuality of our flight operations. 'Over the first three months of 2025, Air India's on-time performance has seen significant improvement on our direct flights from the UK to India, which also reflects on our NPS (customer satisfaction) scores.' Depending on the distance of the route and length of delay, passengers booked on flights from UK airports that are running behind schedule are entitled to assistance such as a reasonable amount of food and drink, a means to communicate and overnight accommodation if required. Passengers may also be able to claim compensation of up to £520 from the airline if the reason for the delay is deemed within its control, which could be a fault with the aircraft or pilot sickness. CAA head of consumers Anna Bowles said: 'We expect all airlines operating in the UK to uphold high standards of service and reliability. 'While the majority of airlines have made progress in reducing delays, with the average falling, delays can cause significant disruption and inconvenience to passengers. 'Delays occur for many reasons, and we fully expect that airlines minimise the impact by providing timely information and upholding passengers' rights when it applies.' Sign in to access your portfolio
The Independent
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Air India ranked most delayed airline after ‘completely unacceptable' record
Air India has been ranked the worst airline for UK flight delays. The carrier's departures from UK airports were an average of 45 minutes and 48 seconds behind schedule in 2024, according to analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data by the PA news agency. The route with the longest average delay was Gatwick to Bangalore, with an average of one hour and 23 minutes across 50 departures. Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, described Air India's performance as 'completely unacceptable'. The airline said the disruption was 'primarily due to factors beyond our control'. Guernsey-based Aurigny Air Services had the second-worst punctuality record for UK departures last year, with an average delay of 31 minutes and 12 seconds. It was followed by Turkish low-cost leisure airline SunExpress (29 minutes and 36 seconds) and Air Portugal (25 minutes and 12 seconds). Irish carrier Emerald Airlines recorded the best performance last year with UK departures delayed by an average of just 10 minutes and 30 seconds. The analysis took into account all scheduled and chartered departures from UK airports by airlines operating more than 2,500 of these flights last year. Cancelled flights were not included. The average delay for all these airlines was 18 minutes and 18 seconds, down from 20 minutes and 42 seconds in 2023. Air India was acquired from the Indian government by Tata Group in January 2022 after racking up billions of pounds of losses. The airline's UK operations are at Birmingham, Gatwick and Heathrow, with routes to a number of Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Data from aviation analytics company Cirium shows the airline operated 56% more flights from UK airports last year compared with 2019. This is projected to rise to 90% this year after increasing flight frequencies on several routes in March. Aviation consultant John Strickland said there has been 'a lot of work going on to put the airline back on track' after it gained a 'poor reputation' for delays and cancellations. This was partly caused by a lack of funds to purchase spare parts for aircraft, leading to some of its fleet being grounded. Mr Strickland said: 'They're coming out of this period of malaise pre-the Tata takeover, and now have to put in work on their engineering, manpower, spare parts holding, all those factors.' He said some of Air India's promotion of its new Airbus A350 first class product has focused on the quality of its service. He noted: 'You can have great meals and a great crew, but fundamentally you've got to operate an airline which is as punctual and reliable as possible. 'That's definitely a work in progress for them.' Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, said: 'These latest delay figures will come as no surprise to travellers, who can find themselves paying sky high amounts for air fares and in return receiving unreliable services. 'Air India had an average delay of 45 minutes. This is completely unacceptable. 'It's time for airlines to get their act together and start delivering the service their customers are paying for.' A spokesperson for Air India said: 'During 2024, Air India's flights to and from the UK experienced occasional delays, primarily due to factors beyond our control. 'Proactive operational initiatives like self-check-in, baggage drop and automated boarding process have ensured smoother airport touchpoint experience and faster turnaround of aircraft, boosting on-time departures. 'The deployment of the new Airbus A350 and upgraded B787-9 aircraft on some of the UK routes has also helped enhance punctuality of our flight operations. 'Over the first three months of 2025, Air India's on-time performance has seen significant improvement on our direct flights from the UK to India, which also reflects on our NPS (customer satisfaction) scores.' Depending on the distance of the route and length of delay, passengers booked on flights from UK airports that are running behind schedule are entitled to assistance such as a reasonable amount of food and drink, a means to communicate and overnight accommodation if required. Passengers may also be able to claim compensation of up to £520 from the airline if the reason for the delay is deemed within its control, which could be a fault with the aircraft or pilot sickness. CAA head of consumers Anna Bowles said: 'We expect all airlines operating in the UK to uphold high standards of service and reliability. 'While the majority of airlines have made progress in reducing delays, with the average falling, delays can cause significant disruption and inconvenience to passengers. 'Delays occur for many reasons, and we fully expect that airlines minimise the impact by providing timely information and upholding passengers' rights when it applies.'
