The hectic holiday travel period has arrived with Thanksgiving just around the corner.
Millions of Americans will be taking to the skies to visit friends, family and loved ones over the final six weeks of 2023 but not everyone will reach their destination on time.
Fortunately, the team at InsureMyTrip recently analyzed the latest flight delay and cancellation data gathered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) to reveal which airports to target and avoid this holiday season.
Worst Airports for Flight Delays
San Juan, Puerto Rico's Luis Munoz Marin International Airport is faring the worst in terms of flight delays this year at 33.9 percent, followed by Orlando International Airport (MCO) at 30 percent.
Other poor-performing airports include Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) at 29.7 percent, Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) at 29.6 percent and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) at 29.5 percent.
Crowded terminal at Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport. (Photo Credit: Brian Walker/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus)
Five other notable airports are reporting delay rates above 25 percent this year, including Tampa International Airport (TPA), Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Ontario International Airport (ONT) in Southern California.
Airports Facing the Fewest Flight Delays
Travelers will likely have better luck flying out of the Midwest and Pacific Northwest.
After all, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) boasts the lowest percentage of flight delays this year at 16.5 percent. Next up is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) at 17.6 percent.
Other airports where fewer than one in five flights are delayed include Salt Lake City International (SLC), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW); Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Boise Airport (BOI) and San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC).
Rounding out the top 10 airports for the fewest delays this year are Portland International Airport (PDX) at 20.2 percent and Dulles International Airport (IAD) at 20.4 percent.
The main corridor of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. (Photo by SeanPavonePhoto/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus)
Worst Airports for Flight Cancellations
When it comes to cancellations this holiday season, travelers should beware of the Northeast, specifically New York City. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) are the nation's three worst for cancellations this year, posting rates of 3.78 percent, 3.32 percent and 2.91 percent, respectively.
Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) also fare among the worst and carry the risk of inclement weather this time of year.
Other airports with high cancellation rates this year include Virginia's Norfolk International Airport (ORF), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Dallas Love Field (DAL), Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE).
Airports Canceling the Fewest Flights
The five U.S. airports that fare the best in terms of cancellation rates in 2023 include Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX at 0.9 percent; Maui's Kahului Airport (OGG) at 0.88 percent; Boise Airport (BOI) and Tucson International Airport (TUS) at 0.76 percent and Hawaii's Kona International Airport (KOA) at just 0.67 percent.
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