In June, airlines improved on-time rate

WASHINGTON — Airlines were running on time more often in June than they did last summer and travelers seemed to be finding less to complain about.

But that was before this month’s computer outage at Delta led to more than 2,000 flight cancellations, widespread delays and travel nightmares.

The Transportation Department said Wednesday that 78 percent of flights on major U.S. airlines arrived on time in June, up from 74.8 percent in June 2015.

The on-time rate slipped from May’s 83.4 percent mark, however.

Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines had the best on-time ratings.

At least one in every four flights was late on American, Virgin America, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways. Flights that arrive at least 15 minutes behind schedule are considered late.

About 1 percent of domestic flights were canceled in June, down from 1.8 percent a year earlier but double May’s 0.5 percent rate. Regional airline ExpressJet and Spirit were most likely to cancel a flight.

Delta Air Lines had the lowest cancellation rate in June, a record that was marred this month by the massive computer outage.