Cancellations in December rose to 3.7% of all scheduled flights for the 18 largest domestic carriers, versus 2.8% in the same month last year, according to data from the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
The on-time rate for the month was 72%, which was same as a year ago, while the number of tarmac delays of three or more hours in the month plunged to three from 34. it can be inferred from the data that because airlines can be fined up to $27,000 a person on aircraft sitting on a tarmac for more than three hours, carriers are opting to cancel flights altogether.
However, the same data said that complaints against US airlines in December rose nearly 8% over a year ago.
United Airlines and JetBlue Airways had the best on-time arrival rates. However JetBlue had the highest rate of canceled flights, followed by Delta Air Lines regional carrier Comair.