The airlines aren't happy with security lines at the airport, either
U.S. airlines are improving on-time performance and canceling fewer flights — but that doesn't mean passengers aren't still waiting at the airport.
The Transportation Security Administration is under fire for increased wait times at security checkpoints, and the latest criticism comes from American Airlines.
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"The lines at TSA checkpoints nationwide have become unacceptable," American spokesman Ross Feinstein said in a statement. "Our customers are waiting in TSA lines greater than one hour."
"The lines at TSA checkpoints nationwide have become unacceptable."
Last month, the TSA advised travelers to plan for extra time at security when heading to the airport this spring and summer.
For major airlines trying to serve more passengers than ever, longer lines are, in a word, unacceptable.
From March 14-20, during the popular travel time of spring break, about 6,800 American Airlines passengers were so delayed at checkpoints that they missed their flights, reported NBC News.
A TSA spokesperson responded that the number one challenge right now "is the threat environment as evidenced by the attacks in Brussels and Egypt and the fact that American transportation systems remain a high value target for terrorists."
"Traveler security is TSA’s number one priority and we will remain intensely focused on this important mission," the TSA spokesperson said.
Even though TSA has a plan to address passenger volume, the agency says, "including more canine use, encouraging pre-check enrollment, overtime, accelerated hiring and more," they are still advising travelers to arrive two hours ahead of domestic departures.
Earlier this week, American Airlines reported record traffic and capacity for the month of March: Revenue passenger miles increased 3.3% from March last year, to 19.0 billion, while total capacity increased 3.8%, to 23.3 billion available seat miles.
American's Feinstein said that wait times have gotten "exponentially" worse in the first three months of 2016.
"As we approach spring and summer, we are concerned that these lines will grow even longer," Feinstein said.
On Wednesday, the Department of Transportation reported 83.6% of flights on leading airlines arrived on time — meaning no later than 14 minutes past schedule — in the month of February, up from 81.3% in January, and 72.8% from the same month the year before.
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