Case study: U.S. airline performance and delay analysis using SAS

Abstract

This case study engages students in a full-cycle data analytics project using real-world airline delay data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Centered on the journey of a student named Jason, the case guides learners through extracting, transforming, and loading flight performance data into SAS, followed by descriptive analysis, visualization, and inferential modeling. Students investigate delay causes across carriers, airports, and regions while applying statistical tests and generating insights that reflect real operational challenges. Designed to simulate a consulting workflow, the case also encourages ethical reasoning and reflective thinking. It is ideal for teaching SAS programming, statistical reasoning, and decision-making using large-scale transportation data.