Flight delays down from last summer

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Flight delays -- the bane of travelers during the summer of 2000 -- are a little less of a nuisance this summer, according to figures released Monday by the Federal Aviation Administration.

There were 36,460 flight delays in May, down 110 from May 2000, according to the FAA. More significantly, the average delay was 37 minutes, down from 56 minutes the previous May.

"We're not declaring victory and going home," said FAA spokesman Bill Shumann. "We still have bad days in the system when the weather is poor, we have a line of thunderstorms, something like that. There are still lots of delays out there."

RESOURCE FAA offers free wireless access to delay data

Airlines, aviation officials and travelers alike had feared that growing air traffic, stormy weather and possible airline strikes would converge to create gridlock in the nation's skies and runways this summer.

But a number of factors appear to have eased the problem. Among them:

* Fewer flights. Air traffic controllers handled 14,188,270 operations -- a measure of air traffic activity -- this May. That's 232,109 fewer than the previous May. Airlines report the uncertain economy has cut into business travel.

* Fair weather. In May 2001, there were 25,044 weather-related delays, 2,775 fewer than the previous May.

* Labor relations. Labor disputes at no fewer than four airlines threatened to disrupt operations this summer. But the only strike to come to fruition involved Comair Airlines, a regional carrier, which has since been settled.

* FAA and airline efforts. The FAA has sought better coordination with airlines, particularly when foul weather is a factor. Additionally, several airlines have rescheduled flights at busy hub airports to avoid delays. Airline executives say on-time service has become an increasing competitive part of their business.