Florence Regional tops list for on-time performance among state airports

According to a new survey, US Airways provides the best on-time service among the 12 airlines operating in South Carolina.

US Airways provides service to only two of the state’s six airports, which includes Florence Regional Airport that tops the list for being the best airport for on-time performance in the state, according to AAA Carolinas.

“Air travelers this summer face higher fares, fewer flights, crowded planes and less service,” David E. Parsons, CEO and president of AAA Carolinas, said in a press release. “In order to help travelers make a more informed choice, AAA Carolinas analyzed South Carolina airports and carriers using federally collected data.”

The next five on-time airlines operating in South Carolina are AirTran Airways, Delta Air Lines, Skywest Airlines, American Eagle Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines.

The five busiest airlines are Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Mesa Airlines, Pinnacle Airlines, ExpressJet and American Eagle, which carry 74.7 percent — three out of every four — passengers flying out of the Charleston International Airport, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport and Columbia Metropolitan Airport.

AAA Carolinas came up with the ranking by analyzing the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics and Air Travel Consumer Reports for the first quarter of 2008.