Cooler weather could lead to smoother flights

The region?s three major airports ranked close to the national averages for on-time flight arrivals and departures in recently released federal statistics, but cooler weather could lead to smoother trips for holiday travelers.

Nationally, 76 percent of flights arrived on time in September and 79 percent left on time, according the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport graded the best of the three for on-time arrival at 83 percent. Flights departed BWI on schedule 82 percent of the time.