Report:U.S. airline service slid in 2004

OMAHA, April 4 (UPI) -- The overall quality of U.S. airline service fell last year, two Midwestern researchers reported Monday.

The 2005 Airline Quality Rating, compiled by Brent Bowen of the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Dean Headley of Wichita State University using monthly Transportation Department data from 2004, found the on-time performance of most airlines declined and they lost more luggage and faced more consumer complaints than in 2004.

Of 16 airlines analyzed, the worst were Atlantic Southeast, Comair, SkyWest, American Eagle, U.S. Airways and Delta, they said.

Jet Blue, Air Tran and Southwest had the best performance last year.

Service declined more sharply last year than in any year since 2001, the two said.