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Bet That Flight Will Be Late

The friendly skies appear to be getting more and more tardy.

By Kristie Borges

| Friday, Oct 9, 2009 | Updated 12:45 AM EDT

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More than 20% of flights at Bradley encounter delays.

How many times have you taken a flight and missed your connection? According to a new study by Brookings Institution, if you’ve flown in and out of Bradley International Airport is probably twice out of every 10 times.

That’s because according to a report released on Thursday, 21% of all domestic flights at Bradley are not on time. The average delay is about 50 minutes.

The report warns of an air travel system in trouble. Nationwide 10% of all flights now arrive at least 2 hours late, that’s double the rate from 1990.

So what’s the problem? Researchers at Brookings say its heavy concentrations of short trips between big cities and also “ill-equipped” air traffic control system and other factors.

Are you choosing to fly out of New York instead of Bradley? That could be a big mistake if you want to get to your final destination on time. About 30% of arrivals and 22% of departures in New York are late.

Where are you the most likely to get in on time? Brookings says Salt Lake City, Honolulu and San Jose, California.

What’s the solution? Researchers say travelers should be given an option, how about taking a high-speed rail as an alternative to short flights that crowd the system.

The airlines blamed the Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic control system for delays. The planned switch from radar to satellites has hit snags in tests, and is still several years away.

What’s the bottom line? Pack a book and some snacks, odds are you likely will be late arriving at your final destination or coming home.