From time to time, news agencies and government regulators will
march out on time performance rankings of US airlines. These same outlets will
have you believe that the airlines at the top of the list are so much better
than those at the bottom. For the most part, these insinuations are not
inaccurate – at least in the time frame the metrics were analyzed. However,
there is something that I have never actually seen taken into consideration with
these lists that I believe could change the perception of airlines; that being the airport variable. We all know there are certain
airports that are just prone to delays and cancellations. I’m sure you could
name one off the top of your head. This could be due to many factors including an
above average risk of bad weather, large passenger volumes and airport capacity
constraints.
Based on this assumption - that not all airports are created
equal – it would only be fair to adjust these rankings based on the airports
that each airline flies from. So that is what I intend to do.
For this initial research, I only looked at the year 2016. I
plan on including multiple years soon. I used data provided by the Department
of Transportation (DOT) – specifically departure on time performance numbers. The
data set allowed me to break down the numbers by airport. A quick calculation gave
me the percentage of on time departures from each airport in 2016. I then used
those numbers to create an airport factor that can be used to adjust average on
time performance numbers for each individual airline. By design, the airport
factor and the percentage of on time departures from each airport are perfectly
correlated.
Below is a list of 294 domestic airports and their average
on time departure percentage as well as the corresponding airport factor for 2016. My
next post will be about using these airport factors to adjust individual
carriers on time performance statistics.
Airports with factors above 100 are those where more overall on time departures occur than those - at a combined average - of the other airports.
| ORIGIN | On Time % | Airport Factor |
| LWS | 0.954 | 112.7 |
| HLN | 0.948 | 112.0 |
| BET | 0.934 | 110.3 |
| EKO | 0.931 | 110.0 |
| PIH | 0.930 | 109.9 |
| ITO | 0.930 | 109.8 |
| GJT | 0.929 | 109.8 |
| TYR | 0.928 | 109.6 |
| BTM | 0.926 | 109.4 |
| GTF | 0.925 | 109.2 |
| LIH | 0.924 | 109.2 |
| SCC | 0.923 | 109.1 |
| BIL | 0.923 | 109.1 |
| GCC | 0.923 | 109.1 |
| SGU | 0.922 | 108.9 |
| CPR | 0.922 | 108.9 |
| ANC | 0.921 | 108.8 |
| HNL | 0.919 | 108.6 |
| YUM | 0.919 | 108.6 |
| BLI | 0.917 | 108.4 |
| CDC | 0.917 | 108.3 |
| RKS | 0.915 | 108.1 |
| YAK | 0.913 | 107.9 |
| FCA | 0.909 | 107.4 |
| SIT | 0.909 | 107.4 |
| IDA | 0.909 | 107.3 |
| JNU | 0.906 | 107.0 |
| LSE | 0.905 | 106.9 |
| BRD | 0.905 | 106.9 |
| KOA | 0.904 | 106.7 |
| ABR | 0.903 | 106.7 |
| CDV | 0.902 | 106.6 |
| BJI | 0.901 | 106.5 |
| OGG | 0.900 | 106.3 |
| ADQ | 0.899 | 106.1 |
| FAI | 0.898 | 106.1 |
| BRW | 0.897 | 105.9 |
| AMA | 0.896 | 105.8 |
| GRK | 0.894 | 105.6 |
| OTZ | 0.894 | 105.6 |
| FNT | 0.893 | 105.5 |
| TWF | 0.891 | 105.2 |
| MSO | 0.890 | 105.2 |
| ISN | 0.890 | 105.1 |
| GFK | 0.889 | 105.1 |
| EYW | 0.889 | 105.0 |
| COD | 0.885 | 104.5 |
| PSG | 0.883 | 104.3 |
| KTN | 0.883 | 104.3 |
| BFL | 0.883 | 104.3 |
| GEG | 0.882 | 104.2 |
| MOT | 0.882 | 104.2 |
| LCH | 0.882 | 104.2 |
| HSV | 0.881 | 104.1 |
| ECP | 0.881 | 104.1 |
| FSM | 0.880 | 103.9 |
| BRO | 0.879 | 103.8 |
| ATW | 0.878 | 103.7 |
| LNK | 0.878 | 103.7 |
| MAF | 0.878 | 103.7 |
| ELM | 0.877 | 103.6 |
| GRB | 0.877 | 103.6 |
| ILM | 0.876 | 103.5 |
| PSC | 0.876 | 103.5 |
| CLL | 0.876 | 103.4 |
| BMI | 0.875 | 103.4 |
| FLG | 0.875 | 103.4 |
| CRP | 0.875 | 103.4 |
| SLC | 0.875 | 103.4 |
| IMT | 0.874 | 103.3 |
| BIS | 0.874 | 103.3 |
| MLI | 0.874 | 103.2 |
| GPT | 0.873 | 103.1 |
| HOB | 0.873 | 103.1 |
| INL | 0.873 | 103.1 |
| LAR | 0.872 | 103.0 |
| TLH | 0.872 | 103.0 |
| MFE | 0.872 | 103.0 |
| LBB | 0.872 | 103.0 |
| TUL | 0.871 | 102.9 |
| RHI | 0.871 | 102.9 |
| EAU | 0.871 | 102.9 |
| BZN | 0.871 | 102.9 |
| LIT | 0.870 | 102.8 |
| MSN | 0.870 | 102.8 |
| MLB | 0.870 | 102.7 |
| WRG | 0.870 | 102.7 |
| AVP | 0.869 | 102.7 |
| PNS | 0.869 | 102.6 |
| MHT | 0.869 | 102.6 |
| LRD | 0.869 | 102.6 |
| RAP | 0.868 | 102.6 |
| PIT | 0.868 | 102.5 |
| JAN | 0.868 | 102.5 |
| ICT | 0.867 | 102.4 |
| EWN | 0.866 | 102.3 |
| OME | 0.866 | 102.3 |
| HRL | 0.866 | 102.2 |
| PHF | 0.865 | 102.2 |
| AZO | 0.863 | 102.0 |
| BGM | 0.862 | 101.8 |
| DAB | 0.862 | 101.8 |
| CIU | 0.862 | 101.8 |
| PDX | 0.861 | 101.7 |
| PIB | 0.861 | 101.7 |
| RST | 0.860 | 101.6 |
| BOI | 0.860 | 101.6 |
| VPS | 0.860 | 101.6 |
| OKC | 0.860 | 101.5 |
| PPG | 0.860 | 101.5 |
| GRR | 0.859 | 101.5 |
| FAR | 0.859 | 101.5 |
| ROW | 0.859 | 101.5 |
| OMA | 0.858 | 101.4 |
| SGF | 0.858 | 101.3 |
| BQK | 0.858 | 101.3 |
| ALB | 0.857 | 101.3 |
| ABY | 0.857 | 101.3 |
| MQT | 0.857 | 101.2 |
| HYS | 0.856 | 101.1 |
| CID | 0.856 | 101.1 |
| FSD | 0.856 | 101.1 |
| JLN | 0.856 | 101.0 |
| SEA | 0.855 | 101.0 |
| PVD | 0.855 | 101.0 |
| XNA | 0.854 | 100.9 |
| DRO | 0.854 | 100.8 |
| CWA | 0.854 | 100.8 |
| BDL | 0.853 | 100.8 |
| VLD | 0.853 | 100.8 |
| ITH | 0.853 | 100.7 |
| MSP | 0.853 | 100.7 |
| LFT | 0.852 | 100.7 |
| DAY | 0.852 | 100.6 |
| LAN | 0.852 | 100.6 |
| CMH | 0.852 | 100.6 |
| GTR | 0.852 | 100.6 |
| MKE | 0.852 | 100.6 |
| OAJ | 0.852 | 100.6 |
| MLU | 0.852 | 100.6 |
| FWA | 0.851 | 100.6 |
| HIB | 0.851 | 100.5 |
| DSM | 0.850 | 100.4 |
| GUM | 0.850 | 100.4 |
| LAW | 0.850 | 100.4 |
| PIA | 0.850 | 100.4 |
| CVG | 0.849 | 100.3 |
| TRI | 0.849 | 100.3 |
| MCI | 0.849 | 100.3 |
| MOB | 0.849 | 100.2 |
| ESC | 0.848 | 100.2 |
| BUF | 0.848 | 100.1 |
| MEM | 0.848 | 100.1 |
| BHM | 0.847 | 100.1 |
| ISP | 0.847 | 100.1 |
| STX | 0.847 | 100.1 |
| CAK | 0.847 | 100.0 |
| DVL | 0.846 | 100.0 |
| SAT | 0.845 | 99.8 |
| DTW | 0.844 | 99.7 |
| SHV | 0.844 | 99.7 |
| MDT | 0.843 | 99.6 |
| AEX | 0.843 | 99.6 |
| JAX | 0.843 | 99.5 |
| STT | 0.843 | 99.5 |
| IND | 0.843 | 99.5 |
| ABE | 0.843 | 99.5 |
| APN | 0.841 | 99.3 |
| CHA | 0.841 | 99.3 |
| FAT | 0.841 | 99.3 |
| AGS | 0.841 | 99.3 |
| GSP | 0.840 | 99.2 |
| DLH | 0.840 | 99.2 |
| TUS | 0.840 | 99.2 |
| MBS | 0.840 | 99.2 |
| EVV | 0.839 | 99.1 |
| JMS | 0.839 | 99.1 |
| TYS | 0.839 | 99.1 |
| SNA | 0.838 | 99.0 |
| COS | 0.838 | 99.0 |
| CSG | 0.838 | 99.0 |
| PSE | 0.838 | 98.9 |
| FAY | 0.838 | 98.9 |
| PAH | 0.838 | 98.9 |
| MRY | 0.837 | 98.9 |
| CAE | 0.837 | 98.9 |
| AUS | 0.836 | 98.8 |
| ROC | 0.836 | 98.8 |
| IAD | 0.836 | 98.7 |
| PLN | 0.836 | 98.7 |
| SDF | 0.835 | 98.6 |
| SBN | 0.835 | 98.6 |
| LEX | 0.834 | 98.6 |
| SPI | 0.834 | 98.5 |
| ELP | 0.834 | 98.5 |
| SYR | 0.834 | 98.5 |
| ERI | 0.834 | 98.5 |
| MSY | 0.834 | 98.5 |
| ATL | 0.833 | 98.4 |
| GNV | 0.833 | 98.4 |
| SAN | 0.831 | 98.2 |
| SBP | 0.831 | 98.1 |
| PHX | 0.831 | 98.1 |
| ABQ | 0.830 | 98.0 |
| CLE | 0.830 | 98.0 |
| CLT | 0.829 | 97.9 |
| ORF | 0.829 | 97.9 |
| ACT | 0.828 | 97.8 |
| MTJ | 0.827 | 97.7 |
| SCE | 0.827 | 97.7 |
| TPA | 0.827 | 97.7 |
| DCA | 0.826 | 97.5 |
| RDU | 0.825 | 97.5 |
| PSP | 0.825 | 97.5 |
| GSO | 0.825 | 97.4 |
| IAH | 0.825 | 97.4 |
| ONT | 0.824 | 97.4 |
| ROA | 0.824 | 97.4 |
| BUR | 0.823 | 97.3 |
| RDM | 0.823 | 97.3 |
| CHS | 0.823 | 97.2 |
| MGM | 0.823 | 97.2 |
| PHL | 0.823 | 97.1 |
| RNO | 0.821 | 96.9 |
| RSW | 0.821 | 96.9 |
| HDN | 0.820 | 96.9 |
| JAC | 0.820 | 96.9 |
| BNA | 0.820 | 96.9 |
| DHN | 0.820 | 96.8 |
| SJC | 0.819 | 96.8 |
| TTN | 0.819 | 96.8 |
| SJU | 0.818 | 96.6 |
| TXK | 0.816 | 96.4 |
| EGE | 0.816 | 96.4 |
| SMF | 0.816 | 96.3 |
| TVC | 0.816 | 96.3 |
| CHO | 0.816 | 96.3 |
| MEI | 0.816 | 96.3 |
| AVL | 0.815 | 96.3 |
| MFR | 0.815 | 96.2 |
| BGR | 0.814 | 96.2 |
| EUG | 0.814 | 96.1 |
| BTR | 0.814 | 96.1 |
| LGB | 0.812 | 95.9 |
| PWM | 0.812 | 95.9 |
| LBE | 0.812 | 95.9 |
| BOS | 0.812 | 95.8 |
| RIC | 0.808 | 95.5 |
| STL | 0.808 | 95.4 |
| SRQ | 0.806 | 95.2 |
| GUC | 0.806 | 95.2 |
| BWI | 0.806 | 95.1 |
| DEN | 0.805 | 95.0 |
| SBA | 0.804 | 95.0 |
| MCO | 0.804 | 94.9 |
| CMX | 0.802 | 94.7 |
| UST | 0.800 | 94.5 |
| CRW | 0.799 | 94.4 |
| SAV | 0.799 | 94.3 |
| HOU | 0.796 | 94.0 |
| LAS | 0.796 | 94.0 |
| MYR | 0.793 | 93.7 |
| DFW | 0.793 | 93.7 |
| OAK | 0.792 | 93.6 |
| MDW | 0.791 | 93.5 |
| BTV | 0.789 | 93.2 |
| BPT | 0.787 | 92.9 |
| DAL | 0.784 | 92.6 |
| HPN | 0.781 | 92.2 |
| PBG | 0.779 | 92.0 |
| RDD | 0.777 | 91.7 |
| JFK | 0.777 | 91.7 |
| FLL | 0.776 | 91.6 |
| ACY | 0.776 | 91.6 |
| SWF | 0.776 | 91.6 |
| SUN | 0.774 | 91.4 |
| SFO | 0.774 | 91.4 |
| MKG | 0.773 | 91.3 |
| SMX | 0.772 | 91.2 |
| MIA | 0.772 | 91.1 |
| PBI | 0.771 | 91.1 |
| LGA | 0.771 | 91.0 |
| ADK | 0.769 | 90.8 |
| ORD | 0.768 | 90.7 |
| LAX | 0.763 | 90.1 |
| SAF | 0.761 | 89.8 |
| EWR | 0.756 | 89.2 |
| ORH | 0.750 | 88.6 |
| ASE | 0.747 | 88.2 |
| ACV | 0.746 | 88.1 |
| BQN | 0.745 | 88.0 |
| IAG | 0.744 | 87.8 |
| OTH | 0.663 | 78.3 |
| MMH | 0.590 | 69.6 |
