Airlines operated 5.4% more flights than in 2024

Flight cancellations by US carriers increased slightly in March, with a rate of 1.1% compared with 0.9% in March 2024. However, it was lower than the 1.5% reported in February 2025, according to the latest U.S. Department of Transportation Air Travel Consumer Report.

The number of flights US carriers operated in March increased 5.4% year over year, according to the report. The more than 657,000 flights operated by US carriers in March was also up from the more than 551,000 operated in February 2025.

In the first quarter of 2025, the largest US carriers operated nearly 1.8 million flights, up 3.2% year over year. The cancellation rate for the quarter was 1.9%, compared with 1.7% in 2024.

The airlines with the lowest rates of canceled flights in March were Allegiant Air (0.6%), Delta Air Lines network (0.6%) and Alaska Airlines network (0.8%). Networks include branded codeshare partners.

US airlines handled more than 42 million bags in March and reported a mishandled baggage rate of 0.48%, lower than the 0.52% reported in March 2024 and the 0.53% reported in February 2025.

In March, DOT received nearly 5,600 submissions — complaints, inquiries and opinions —  up from the 5,350 submissions received a year earlier. That figure also exceeded the 5,150 submissions reported in February 2025. US airlines accounted for nearly 72% of the submissions, with foreign airlines at 25% and travel agencies just below 2%. Submissions regarding the 10 largest reporting US carriers and their branded networks increased 5.4% year over year to about 3,840.