Rio, May 26, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Brazilian airline companies improved their indexes of keeping to schedules, according to a survey released on Friday (23), in Rio, by the National Union of Airline Companies (SNEA). The average on-schedule index for domestic flights progressed from 87.8% in 1999 to 90.3% in the first quarter of this year. Last year's average was 88.6%.

According to the entity, these levels are considered excellent by international standards. On the other hand, with respect to indicators of regularity in domestic flights, reflecting the quantity of airline connections as a proportion of the total authorized by air transportation officials, the SNEA observed a decline. The average coefficient in the first quarter of this year was 55%, as against 82.1% in 2002 and 85.7% in 1999. (DAS)