CONCORD, N.C. — A newly released study ranked Concord-Padgett Regional Airport the 10th "least reliable" airport in the country, according to the study's publisher, Jettly, an on-demand, private jet charter company. In response, the city of Concord, which operates the airport, called the analysis "unfairly skewed."
The publication cited that out of 992 flights at the airport in the first eight months of this year, 318, or about 32%, of those flights were delayed, canceled, or diverted.
The numbers are backed up by government statistics managed by the Bureau of Transportation Statics — but in response to the Jettly findings, a spokesperson explained there is more to the story. A spokesperson for the airport sent WCNC Charlotte this statement:
"Concord-Padgett Regional Airport prides itself on delivering excellent service to its customers. The overwhelmingly positive 4.5 star reviews from our customers affirm our friendly and helpful staff make traveling easy, efficient, and enjoyable. We are proud to service Allegiant Airlines, which offers affordable fares to desirable locations across Florida. Because we service only one commercial airline, however, the data referenced in the report is unfairly skewed by factors beyond our control. Any time an Allegiant flight is late departing from another airport due to weather, Concord-Padgett Regional Airport is penalized because the aircraft is now late arriving into and departing from Concord. The report was prepared by a for-profit private jet charter service and uses data that does not consider these factors. We encourage anyone looking for an easier way to travel with fewer crowds and affordable flights to consider flying with us."
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The reliability numbers of Allegiant Airlines at Concord-Padgett Regional Airport are similar to the airline's overall average across the country, which according to the Bureau of Transportation Statics, saw nearly 29% of its flights experience issues with either delays, cancelations or diversions.
For comparison, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which services flights from numerous airlines including American Airlines, Delta, Jet Blue and Southwest, showed 22% of its flights were negatively impacted, according to the government stats. That airport's largest carrier, American Airlines, saw 26% of flights impacted nationwide.
Jettly's analysis named Stockton Metropolitan Airport in California as the least reliable airport in the country with nearly 45% of flights experiencing issues. Bert Mooney Airport in Montana was named the most reliable with only 9% of flights experiencing issues.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the largest airport in the region, was not ranked among the top 20 of the nation's least — or most — reliable airports.