Atlantic Southeast flights often tardy

Geeta Desai had no problem with delays on a recent Continental Express flight from Augusta to Houston.

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"It was not bad at all," she said.

Not everyone has been so lucky.

Isaac and Joann Miller, California residents who often visit their son and two grandchildren in Augusta, said they once waited three hours at Augusta Regional Airport after their U.S. Airways flight was canceled.

"The thing was, there was no announcement that it was canceled," Mr. Miller said.

So, just how often are Augusta flights delayed or canceled? And who is the biggest culprit?

Atlantic Southeast Airlines, a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, had the most departures 60 minutes or more late from Augusta Regional in June, according to Augusta Regional's most recent departure report released last week.

Of ASA's 256 departing flights, 13, or about one in every 20 flights, arrived an hour or more late. In comparison, U.S. Airways Express had no flights an hour late and Continental had seven, about one in 17 of its flights.

U.S. Airways had nine cancellations in June. ASA had six. Continental had none.

So far this year, ASA's on-time percentage at Augusta has dropped from 92 percent in January to 84 percent in June. Continental dropped 17 percent since having a 98 percent on-time rate during its starting month, March. U.S. Airways has decreased less than one percent from January to June.

"We want as many flights as possible to depart on time, as do our customers," said Gina Pesko, a spokeswoman for ASA. "But I would say being in the upper 70 percent to 80 percent is certainly within our goals."

Flights leaving Augusta aren't the only concern. Departures from other airports to Augusta also can cause delays.

Ms. Pesko said ASA operated 513 round-trip flights between Atlanta and Augusta in June. Eleven flights were canceled and 116 didn't arrive on time. That means ASA passengers had a 75 percent chance of flying out and back into Augusta on time in June.

Rahsaan Johnson, a spokesman for Continental Air Lines, said his airline's flights leaving New York and Houston into Augusta were on time 86 percent of the time in June.

David Castelveter, a spokesman for U.S. Airways, said time figures for his airline's flights from Charlotte to Augusta were not available.

One more important factor: lost or misplaced luggage.

According to Augusta Regional's report, there were no claims last month at the airport of lost bags that were not later recovered. However, 431 people had to recover bags that had been misplaced. Of those, 304 were on ASA flights.

FLIGHT DELAYS

Departure times from Augusta in June:

Reach Preston Sparks at (706) 828-3904 or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.