Delays drop, weather-related problems rise at U.S. airports

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Air traffic control delays at the nation's airports were down more than 11 percent in July from the month before, while operations at the largest airports increased, the Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday.

In its monthly air traffic control delay report, the FAA found a total of 44,401 delays nationwide in July. That figure is down 11.1 percent from June, and down 1.7 percent from July 1999.

QUICK STATS Click for a comparison of flight delays in 1999 and 2000     BAD WEATHER See how often thunderstorms seriously affected operations at major airports     MESSAGE BOARD Travel troubles

Delays due to weather dropped 14.1 percent from June, and about the same amount from a year ago.

The report found weather delays caused 76.4 percent of all delays in July, a percentage that the FAA said was higher than normal. The agency said that reflected a higher-than-normal number of bad days during the month.

Air traffic control delays due to volume, the second-largest cause of delays, "increased significantly" in July from the month before and from July 1999, the report said.

July's operations nationwide rose 1 percent compared to June 2000 and July 1999. At the country's top 55 airports, operations increased 2.1 percent between January and July 2000, compared to the same period a year ago.

At the nation's 22 busiest airports, which handle about two-thirds of airline passengers, thunderstorms seriously reduced the flights 153 days in July 2000. Thunderstorms in July 1999 caused 99 flight reductions.

The FAA also said delays also were caused by a higher number of planes flying in the system -- 2.1 percent more than a year ago.

The monthly reports were undertaken last year as a way to help airlines improve service.

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Federal Aviation Administration

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