Delta ranks near top in on-time performance for first quarter

Delta Air Lines passengers watch as a Delta plane taxis at Hartsfield-Jackson. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

Delta Air Lines passengers watch as a Delta plane taxis at Hartsfield-Jackson. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines ranked near the top among U.S. carriers for on-time performance in the first quarter of the year, according to a federal report.

For January-March 2018, Delta was No. 2 for punctuality with an 86.37 percent on-time arrival rate, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Alaska Airlines held the No. 1 spot with an 87 percent on-time rate.

However, Delta’s regional carrier subsidiary Endeavor Air ranked 13th out of 18 carriers for on-time performance.

Airline on-time arrival rate, January-March 2018

1. Alaska, 87.02%

2. Delta, 86.37%

3. Hawaiian, 84.8%

4. United, 84.4%

5. Spirit, 83.37%

6. American, 81.89%

7. Southwest, 79.34%

8. Mesa, 78.94%

9. Allegiant, 78.45%

10. Republic, 77.98%

11. SkyWest, 77.91%

12. Virgin Amerca, 77.61%

13. Endeavor, 76.96%

14. Envoy, 76.51%

15. ExpressJet, 76.29%

16. Frontier, 75.77%

17. PSA, 72.65%

18. JetBlue, 67.92%

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

For the month of March alone, Delta ranked No. 1 for on-time performance with 86.97 percent of flights arriving on time, followed closely behind by Alaska at 86.77 percent.