The One Airline That Almost Never Cancels Summer Flights

Summer travel season is here, and if you're planning to fly, one question matters more than price: will your airline actually get you there on time?

A new study from Only In Your State looked at Department of Transportation data from the last four summer seasons to rank the most and least reliable airlines in the country. The results give travelers a handy guide for booking flights in the coming weeks.

Why These Two Airlines Cancel Flights Less Than Anyone Else

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Hawaiian Airlines came in first, with the lowest delay rate among major carriers. Only 18.1 percent of its flights arrived late, and it had the second-lowest cancellation rate at 0.7 percent. This strong performance is partly due to Hawaiian serving fewer than 30 routes worldwide, which helps the airline stay on schedule.

Alaska Airlines takes the number two spot, which is good news for Pacific Northwest travelers who often fly out of Sea-Tac. Alaska is one of only two airlines in the study to cancel less than one percent of summer flights, and it had a delay rate of 21.6 percent, one of the three lowest among all carriers.

Lost Bags, Long Delays: What the Data Says About the Worst Performers

For mishandled luggage, Allegiant Air stands out by losing or damaging only 0.15 percent of checked bags. The study links this low number to Allegiant's policy of charging for most baggage, which results in fewer bags being checked overall. Allegiant ranked fifth overall. AOL

Frontier Airlines had the worst on-time performance among major carriers. More than one in three summer flights were delayed, and the cancellation rate was the highest at 3.1 percent.

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The Simple Trick That Cuts Your Odds of a Summer Delay

Late-arriving aircraft are the single biggest cause of summer delays, accounting for more than 41 percent of all delay minutes, while airline management issues account for nearly 34.5 percent. The lesson? Morning flights tend to be your safest bet — disruptions compound throughout the day as planes and crews fall behind schedule.

For Wenatchee Valley residents flying from Pangborn or driving to Sea-Tac, Alaska Airlines remains the primary carrier on regional routes. Its strong reliability ranking this summer is reassuring as we head into the busiest travel months of the year.