The turnaround tactic and on-time performance: Implications for airlines' efficiency

Schedule padding is a frequent strategy applied by transport providers, often used to improve their on-time performance. Normally, time efficiency is evaluated in terms of arrival delays. However, in the air transport industry, evidence shows that flights tend to depart late, although arriving on time. This study investigates the carriers' turnaround time strategy by comparing the scheduled and actual daily movements of all flights from or to Europe in 2019. Results show that turnaround variations are more frequent in larger airports, during peak hours, and when an aircraft performs a higher number of flights. Low-cost carriers usually set a significantly shorter turnaround time than traditional carriers, using a larger part of the scheduled block time for ground operations. This strategy greatly influences on-time performance measures and other efficiency indicators traditionally based on scheduled activities, with important implications for both airlines and passengers.