The Nation : Airlines to Disclose Delays

The government will order airlines to disclose publicly their record of on-time performance to help travelers make an informed choice and avoid flight delays and cancellations, officials said. Transportation Secretary Elizabeth Hanford Dole scheduled a news conference today to announce the move. Dole declined to detail the latest federal action but said during an interview she expects it will make air travel more efficient. Other officials, who requested anonymity, said the new regulation will cover the nation’s 14 biggest carriers flying into 27 major U.S. airports. “Any airline that fails to live up to the new regulation could face fines,” one official said. The new rule will direct airlines to disclose on a monthly basis how frequently they are late and how often the flights are canceled, the officials said.