Flying to NYC? Good chance you're late

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The New York metropolitan area's three major airports had the worst U.S. on-time record in January, according to an organization that tracks and compiles data about the airline industry.

Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey was the tardiest airport in North America last month, according to FlightStats, with flights arriving on time only 62.32% of the time.

Arrivals to New York's LaGuardia Airport were on time 66.13% of the time, while John F. Kennedy International Airport had an on-time rate of 67.49%, FlightStats said.

In its examination of 40 major airports in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the group calculated an average on-time arrival rate of 74.67%. This includes all flights arriving within 15 minutes of the scheduled time.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which represents Newark, LaGuardia and Kennedy airports, was not immediately available for comment. But in past interviews, Port Authority spokesman Pasquale DiFulco has blamed poor performance on severe congestion in the nation's largest metropolitan area, despite appeals to the Federal Aviation Authority and the Department of Transportation to add capacity.

Metropolitan Oakland International Airport in California scored the top ranking with FlightStats, with 87.72% of arrivals on time. George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport had an on-time success rate of 85.57%, followed by 83.33% for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Memphis International Airport in Tennessee was on time 82.54% of the time, followed by 82.14% for San Diego-Lindbergh Field Airport in California and 80.38% for Los Angeles International.

Canadian airports fared worse than LaGuardia and Kennedy. At Pierre Elliott Trudeau International in Montreal, 62.64% of arrivals were on time, while 62.99% were on time at Toronto Pearson International Airport and 63.04% were on time at Vancouver International Airport.

Hawaiian leads the airlines

FlightStats also released data regarding airlines and their on-time arrival performance in January. Hawaiian Airlines, owned by Hawaiian Holdings (HA), was the most efficient, arriving on time 90.47% of the time, followed by Virgin America, at 83.96%, and Southwest Airlines (LUV, Fortune 500), at 83.37%.

FlightStats said the poorest performer was Comair, a Delta-owned connecting carrier, with 56.04% of its flights arriving on time. Delta (DAL, Fortune 500) was not immediately available for comment.

This was followed by Freedom Airlines, with an on-time success rate of 62.12%, and Air Wisconsin Airlines, at 62.96%.

Of the 37 airlines examined by FlightStats, the average on-time success rate was 75.99%. 


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