Boeing

Results of a study released earlier this week indicate that four of the top five airlines preferred by U.S. travelers operate all-Boeing fleets.

The study, conducted by researchers at Wichita State University and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, is based on data collected by the United States Department of Transportation. It showed that on-time performance remains a primary issue with flyers.

Of the five airlines ranked at the top of the 1999 survey, Southwest, Continental, Delta and Alaska are all-Boeing operators.

"Passengers want to depart and arrive on time," said Professor Dean Headley, one of the study's authors. "If the flight is on time, it colors everything else." He added that the top airlines hold their positions at the head of performance studies in large part because passengers recognize their consistent reliability.

"We see this as reinforcing what we have known for a long time," said Seddik Belyamani, Boeing executive vice president of sales and marketing. "Passengers place great importance on reliability and that's why airlines that fly Boeing jets have a competitive advantage. Boeing jets are the most reliable in the skies."

In addition to on-time performance, the study uses the Department of Transportation data to score the major U.S.-based carriers on baggage handling, consumer complaints and denied boardings.