When you travel by air you expect a safe and enjoyable flight with an "on time" departure. However, be prepared, as you may experience a delay. You can expect the airline will offer advice regarding the delay.However, in most cases you will be given an "excuse" for the delay rather than the "reason" for the disruption to your travel arrangements. For example, you may be advised that the late departure is due to the late arrival of the aircraft to operate the service. This begs the question - "why" was the inbound aircraft late?This book will delve into the "why" and provide enlightening information on the actual cause of flight delays. It will establish that some delays are predictable and therefore avoidable, whilst others are infrequent occurrences and well outside the airline's control.The knowledge gained will better equip you to ask the right questions and subsequently focus the airline industry's attention to prioritise its efforts to make your travel the "on time" experience you anticipated.By understanding the factors which lead to delays and knowing the historical performance of a flight, you can be more selective in your choice of airline and flights, thus improving the quality of your travel experience and reducing the probability of a delay.