U.S. airlines' on-time performance and baggage handling improved in August, compared to the same month a year ago, the Transportation Department said Thursday.
JetBlue Airways Corp. had the worst on-time performance in August.

Hawaiian Airlines had the best.

The DOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics said the 19 carriers reporting on-time performance recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 78.4 percent in August VS 71.7 percent recorded a year earlier.

August carriers canceled 1.6 percent of their scheduled domestic flights which went down from 1.9 percent in August 2007.

Airline Service Complaints also dropped.

August ’08, 1,006 complaints were received VS 1,639 complaints filed in August 2007 , represents a 38.7% drop.

Delta Air Lines Inc.'s regional subsidiary, Comair, had the second lowest on-time arrival rate in August, at 67.4 percent.
Delta's on-time arrival rate in August was 77.1 percent, which ranked 11th out of 19 airlines. Year-to-date, AMR Corp.'s American Airlines was at the bottom among the 19 reporting airlines in on-time performance.

Among legacy carriers, Northwest Airlines Corp. had the best on-time arrival rate in August, at 85.3 percent, good for fourth overall. Among discount carriers, Southwest Airlines was best, at 84.4 percent, and fifth overall.

Airlines struggling with high fuel costs have been raising fees for handling luggage and in some cases adding new fees for a first bag. Many airlines have been raising fares, as well.