United canceled 3% of flights during the first half of 2022, according to OAG.
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- New data calculated the percentage of flights cancelled by airlines in the first half of 2022.
- The data from OAG, reported by Sky News, included United, American, Lufthansa and British Airways.
- With 4.3%, JetBlue canceled the highest percentage of flights among US airlines surveyed.
As airline travel chaos continues, data has revealed how US transatlantic carriers like JetBlue, American, and United compare with other global competitors including British Airways, KLM, and Lufthansa.
The data was compiled by OAG, an aviation data company, and reported by Sky News.
The data only covers the period up to July 10, 2022. It focused on select major carriers with more than 100,000 scheduled flights, per Sky News. A cancelation is classed as a flight that was not canceled at least 48 hours before it was scheduled to depart, per the outlet.
At 4.3%, JetBlue had the highest cancelation rate among US carriers surveyed. American axed 3.6% of flights during the first half of the year. United, the best-performing US airline, canceled 3%, according to OAG.
Those percentages are generally higher compared with similar-sized European equivalents during the same period. British Airways cancelled 3.5% of flights, Lufthansa 1.5%, Air France 1%, and KLM canceled 5% up to July 10, per the data.
John Strickland, an aviation consultant at JLS Consultancy, previously told Insider that airlines typically aim for 99% regularity.
Long-running staff shortages, exacerbated by the pandemic have left airlines, airports and service companies ill-equipped to cope with pent-up demand for travel.
Airlines have collectively canceled thousands of flights this summer, as execs trim schedules to minimize the disruption and avoid hours-long queues, like those witnessed at some airports over recent national holidays.
On July 7, British Airways announced plans to cut up to 13% of its summer schedule by the end of October.
