On time performance - aircraft rather than trains

[whole diary]

[grahame]

We often look at whether trains arrive on time, franchise by franchise.  Here's a chart for aircraft, carrier by carrier, for last month.

http://cms.flightstats.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/June-2013-FlightStats-Major-International-Airlines-On-time-Arrivals.png

"On time" appears to mean "arrives no more than 14 minutes late" to the airline industry. Full report:
http://cms.flightstats.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/FlightStats-On-time-Report-June-2013-.pdf

[Brucey]

I find it surprising that no data is included for Ryanair, considering they announce "Last year over 90% of Ryanair flights landed on time, beating every other European airline" everytime* a plane lands, usually accompanied by a cheer from some passengers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkoR-icSpVM (1:10 onwards).

* = I've now been on two Ryanair flights where we didn't get the fanfare.  Both times were due to adverse weather where the airport didn't have enough ground staff to de-ice the aircraft.

[grahame]

I find it surprising that no data is included for Ryanair ...

See page 42 of the .pdf - Ryanair are unconventional in some aspects, and that may extend to data availability

Carrier SelecIon Criteria

Carrier flight performance is assessed only for airlines where FlightStats can accurately determine the flight status gate data on a significant percentage of the scheduled passenger flights (no charter or unscheduled passenger flights, or cargo flights are considered). Typically 80% coverage is needed to for a carrier to be included in the analysis with coverage oten in the upper 90% range.

Airport Selection Criteria

Performance is assessed only for airports where FlightStats can accurately determine the outcome of a significant porIon of an airport's departures of scheduled passenger flights (no charter or unscheduled passenger flights, or cargo flights are considered). Typically 80-^‐90% coverage is needed for an airport to be included in the analysis with coverage oten in the upper 90% range. However, in Europe and Asia the coverage threshold was set lower to include a couple of key airports in the analysis.

[LiskeardRich]

There are no formal checks and the results are subject to the data the airlines submit, which isn't verifiable barring from a few of the largest airports in each country which are recorded.
This was mentioned in the recent Ryanair 90% on time article. Many airlines do not share their data at all, and the data used are from unofficial sources.

[SandTEngineer]

Interesting data.  I returned by BA^» (British Airways - about) from Vancouver to LHR last Monday and when we arrived on the apron at the gate allocated there were no staff or baggage trucks present (we waited on the apron for at least 20 minutes with engines turning - what a waste of fuel).  Wonder how this counts in the statistics

[grahame]

Definitions of Delays
The following terms are used to describe and categorize the magnitude of flight delays:
^  On time ^ A flight is considered on time if it arrives or departs at the gate less than 15 minutes ater the scheduled gate time.
^  Late ^ A flight is classified as late if it arrives or departs at the gate delayed from 15 to 29 minutes ater scheduled gate Ime.
^  Very Late ^ Very late includes flights that arrive or depart at the gate from 30 to 44 minutes ater the scheduled gate Ime.
^  Excessive ^ Excessive includes flights that arrive or depart at the gate 45 minutes or more ater the scheduled gate time.

[SandTEngineer]

Thanks Grahame.  My point was that although we had arrived at (outside) the gate we had not actually parked (or docked) at the gate itself as there was nobody present to switch on the docking guidance system.

[grahame]

Thanks Grahame.  My point was that although we had arrived at (outside) the gate we had not actually parked (or docked) at the gate itself as there was nobody present to switch on the docking guidance system.

Ah sorry ... it was the end of a very long weekend

[TonyK]

Thanks Grahame.  My point was that although we had arrived at (outside) the gate we had not actually parked (or docked) at the gate itself as there was nobody present to switch on the docking guidance system.

Then you were late - you were not "on chocks" (although you may have been on chocs, if hungry)