Virgin America tops Airline Quality Rating report for second year

For the second consecutive year, Virgin America stood atop a ranking of the best airlines in the U.S.

The California-based airliner took first on the Airline Quality Rating report, which ranks carriers based upon their on-time performance, lost bag rates, customer complaints and more, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The yearly study is released by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Wichita State University researches. They examine data provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The report said, "With a mixed bag of gains and losses across the 15 carriers rated, the improvement in AQR score for the industry is a positive sign."

The AQR found that on-time arrivals slipped to 78.4 percent from 81.8 percent, while mishandled bags rose to 3.21 per 1,000 passengers from 3.07 per 1,000 passengers. Complaints and those not provided a seat did decline from the previous year.

In second place among carriers was JetBlue Airways, which was second the year before, according to Dallas News. Hawaiian took third and Delta was in fourth.

While Virgin actually improved upon its previous year's numbers, Southwest dipped to eighth. The carrier has continued to fall in the AQR since placing third in 2007. American Eagle placed last on the list.