Airline Delays Report

Summary

Report submitted for the FP20 Analytics ZoomCharts Challenge, January 2025. The report was built using the Airline Delays Dataset and includes ZoomCharts custom Drill Down PRO visuals for Power BI.

Author's description:

1. What are the busiest months and airports for flights?

The highest number of arrivals occur in November, September, March, April, January, and December.

2. Which months experience the highest delay rates?

Delays are most frequent in November, January, March, April, and September.

3. How do delay patterns vary across different airlines?

The airlines with the most delays closely match those with the highest flight volumes, differing only in order.

• Top 5 airlines by arrivals:

  • Southwest Airlines Co.

  • Delta Airlines Inc.

  • SkyWest Airlines Inc.

  • American Airlines Inc.

  • United Airlines Inc.

• Top 5 airlines by delays:

  • Southwest Airlines Co.

  • SkyWest Airlines Inc.

  • American Airlines Inc.

  • Delta Airlines Inc.

  • United Airlines Inc.

4. What are the primary causes of delays?

The top three causes of delays are:

1. Late aircraft

2. National Aviation System issues

3. Carrier-related reasons

Other causes, such as weather and security breaches, contribute significantly less.

5. Which airports are most affected by weather-related delays?

The top 5 airports with the longest weather-related delays (in minutes) are:

• Marcos Paz Airfield (Argentina)

• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (USA)

• Chicago O'Hare International Airport (USA)

• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (USA)

• Denver International Airport (USA)

6. How do delays differ between peak and off-peak seasons?

To define peak and off-peak seasons, we analyzed total arrival volumes. The six months with the highest flight counts were classified as peak season, while the rest were considered off-peak.

• Delay rate in peak season: 17.2%

• Delay rate in off-peak season: 16.9%

Although delay rates don’t vary drastically across months, peak season months tend to experience slightly higher delays.

7. Are there geographical patterns in delay occurrences (e.g., coastal vs. inland airports)?

Yes, geographical factors significantly impact weather-related delays. Coastal and inland airports experience different types of weather disruptions based on location, terrain, and climate conditions.

8. Do certain regions experience higher delays due to weather conditions?

Yes, some regions are more prone to weather-related delays. The top 5 airports with the highest weather-related delay rates are:

• Marcos Paz Airfield (Argentina)

• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (USA)

• Chicago O'Hare International Airport (USA)

• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (USA)

• Denver International Airport (USA)

Extreme cold, snow, thunderstorms, fog, and rapid weather changes are the primary causes of delays in these locations.

9. What percentage of total flights experience delays of over 15 minutes?

17.1% of all flights experience delays exceeding 15 minutes. Further breakdowns by airline and airport are available on the On-Time & Delays page.

10. Are there airports or airlines with significantly better on-time performance?

Yes, the top-performing airlines and airports in terms of on-time performance are:

• Top 3 airlines with the best on-time performance:

  • Hawaiian Airlines Inc.

  • Endeavor Air Inc.

  • Delta Airlines Inc.

• Top 3 airports with the best on-time performance:

  • Mobile Downtown Airport

  • Pitt-Greenville Airport

  • Central Wyoming Regional Airport

It is important to note that these airports have fewer arrivals, which contributes to their higher on-time performance rates.