Flight delays plagued air travel in Q1

Service levels in the first quarter hit new low

By Tom Stundza -- Purchasing, 5/8/2008 10:42:00 AM

More than 29% of domestic flights were late or canceled in the first quarter as airlines battled safety inspections and switchovers to smaller planes to battle record fuel costs, the Associated Press reports.

Transportation Department data shows January-to-March as the second-worst opening quarter since comparable data began being collected in 1995. Weather is always a first quarter issue. But, the airlines also are replacing big planes with smaller ones to fly with fewer empty seats as they struggle to deal with jet fuel costs that have risen more than 60% in the last year. The crowds the skies and gates, analysts say.