October was the nation's major airlines' best month operationally in more than four years, according to federal statistics released Tuesday.

        Airlines were on time (within 15 minutes of schedule) 84.8 percent of the time during the month, but reduced traffic and demand played a major part. That's the highest rate since airlines reported a rate of 85.0 percent in September 1997.

        Most carriers reduced capacity by at least 20 percent in response to a drop in demand caused by the Sept. 11 attacks.

        Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, which operates its second-largest hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, was actually the best of the top 12 airlines with an on-time rate of 90.1 percent.

        Delta spokeswoman Cindi Kurczewski said good weather also helped performance.

        Erlanger-based regional carrier and Delta subsidiary Comair had an on-time rate of 88.6 percent systemwide during October. Company spokesman Nick Miller said the airline shoots for at least 90 percent, but that several days of heavy winds locally affected the monthly results.

        The U.S. Department of Transportation report does not include results from airlines such as Comair.

        Flights arriving at the local airport had an on-time rating of 89.7 percent, good for a tie for second with Newark, N.J., among the nation's 32 busiest facilities.

        Departures from Cincinnati had an on-time rate of 90.5 percent, which ranked third.

        Atlanta had the highest arrival rate with 91.4 percent, and Salt Lake City had the highest departure rate at 90.8 percent.

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