More than one flight in six are now at least 15 minutes late leaving the gate.

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Flight departure delays are at their worst level since 2000, according to a published report.

The New York Times reports that Bureau of Transportation Statistics recently released show this is shaping up to be the worst year for departure delays since 2000, with more than one flight in six leaving the gate at least 15 minutes late.

Airlines are trying to make up for the delays by flying faster, but that burns more fuel and money for an industry already hit with higher fuel costs and difficult economics. However, compared with last year, on-time arrivals this year have actually improved slightly - 78 percent versus 77.8 percent. But that still means more than one flight in five arrives late.

The major airlines grounded older planes and cut capacity due to the sharp drop in demand for air travel following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But the growth of low-fare carriers and the purchase of new aircraft by some airlines that had cut back is again pushing capacity at some airports.

"There are just too many flights trying to get in and out, and that means that there are some flights that are really, really bad," Chris McGinnis, editor of a travel newsletter called The Ticket.

The Times reports that the nation's worst flight in terms of on-time departure performance is AirTran Flight 576, which is supposed to leave Atlanta daily at 4:54 p.m. and arrive at Newark Liberty Airport at 7:07 p.m. But the flight has been late leaving the gate 72 percent of the time over the last 12 months.

In addition, there are six flights from United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Independence Air and AirTran that went more than a month this year without an on time departure.

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