Fewer flights and new government measures to ease airport conditions mean holiday fliers have an improved chance of arriving at their destination on time.

The Bush administration has opened even more military space to commercial travel than it did last year for the Thanksgiving and Christmas travel seasons. The government has also reduced the number of flights allowed per hour at New York airports.

Financially strapped airlines have cut back on the number of flights. Fewer flights and more open space allow airlines to catch up when there are delays, especially at hub airports. Recent data collected by airlines also show a reduction in the number of late flights.

Now if the weather will only cooperate.