The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in significant changes to airline schedules and operations in June 2021 although airlines scheduled and operated more flights in June 2021 than any month since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

The total number of flights operated in June 2021 has reached 83% of pre-pandemic levels with 564,583 flights operated in June 2021 compared with 679,802 flights operated in June 2019. Flights operated in June 2021 were more than double the 236,234 flights operated in June 2020.

In June 2021, the 10 marketing network carriers reported 573,779 scheduled domestic flights, 9,196 (1.6%) of which were canceled, and 564,583 (98.4%) of which were operated. In June 2020, the same airlines reported 237,234 scheduled domestic flights, 1,030 (0.4%) of which were canceled, and 236,234 (99.6%) of which were operated. In pre-pandemic June 2019, airlines reported 694,469 scheduled domestic flights, 14,667 (2.1%) of which were canceled, and 679,802 (97.9%) of which were operated.

When compared to the 2,350 flights canceled and 517,709 flights operated in May 2021, June 2021 saw a 291% increase in flight cancellations and a 9.1% increase in flights operated.

June On-Time Performance

In June 2021, reporting marketing carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 74.6%, down from both 86.2% in May 2021 and 92.7% in June 2020.

For the first six months of 2021, the reporting marketing carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 84.22%, compared to the rate of 79.4% during the same period last year.

Highest Marketing Carrier On-Time Arrival Rates June 2021

1. Hawaiian Airlines – 87.7%
2. Delta Air Lines Network – 86.8%
3. Alaska Airlines Network – 80.7%

Lowest Marketing Carrier On-Time Arrival Rates June 2021

1. Allegiant Air – 56.6%
2. Southwest Airlines – 62.4%
3. JetBlue Airways – 65.1%

June Cancellations

In June 2021, reporting marketing carriers canceled 1.6% of their scheduled domestic flights, compared to the rate of 0.5% in May 2021 and 0.4% in June 2020.

Lowest Marketing Carrier Rates of Canceled Flights June 2021

1. Hawaiian Airline – 0.0%
2. Delta Air Lines Network – 0.1%
3. JetBlue Airways – 0.6%

Highest Marketing Carrier Rates of Canceled Flights June 2021

1. Southwest Airlines – 3.3%
2. American Airlines Network – 2.4%
3. Allegiant Air – 2.2%

Tarmac Delays

In June 2021, airlines reported 11 tarmac delay of more than three hours on domestic flights, compared to one tarmac delay reported in May 2021 and no tarmac delays reported in June 2020. In June 2021, airlines reported 1 tarmac delay of more than four hours on international flights, compared to no tarmac delays reported in May 2021 and no tarmac delays in June 2020.

Mishandled Baggage

In June 2021, the reporting marketing carriers posted a mishandled baggage rate of 6.13 mishandled bags per 1,000 checked bags, a higher rate than both the May 2021 rate of 3.81 per 1,000 checked bags and the June 2020 rate of 2.86 per 1,000 checked bags. For the first six months of the year, the carriers posted a mishandled baggage rate of 4.36 per 1,000 checked bags, a lower rate than the 4.76 rate for the same period last year.