Holiday Travel · Airports
The 10 U.S. Airports Most Likely to Ruin Your Holiday Trip, and 3 of the Top 4 Are in New York
Canceled flights, planes that never land on time and delays that stretch past an hour and a half. If your holiday plans route through these ten airports, here is what the numbers say, and how to beat them.
Nobody plans a holiday trip expecting to spend it on the floor of Gate C14. Yet every year, millions of travelers discover that where they fly from matters almost as much as when. An analysis of last year’s Thanksgiving and Christmas flights reveals which U.S. airports were most likely to cancel, delay or derail holiday plans, and the results are a wake-up call for anyone flying through the Northeast.
The ranking weighs cancellations, on-time arrivals, delays caused by late-arriving planes and the average length of a delay. Three of the four worst airports serve the New York area, but the list stretches from Detroit and Minneapolis to Fort Lauderdale and Dallas. Here is the full top ten, and what to do if your trip runs through one of them.
Three of the four worst airports for holiday travel serve the New York area.
The ranking at a glance
| # | Airport | State | Canceled | On time | Late-aircraft delays | Avg. delay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LaGuardia Airport (LGA) | New York | 4.24% | 63.3% | 10.22% | 77.9 min |
| 2 | Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) | New Jersey | 3.87% | 68.8% | 7.63% | 81.5 min |
| 3 | Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) | Washington, D.C. | 2.79% | 66.3% | 11.64% | 78.6 min |
| 4 | John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) | New York | 3.53% | 72.5% | 8.44% | 81.3 min |
| 5 | Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) | Michigan | 2.65% | 72.9% | 8.89% | 81.8 min |
| 6 | Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) | Minnesota | 2.43% | 74.1% | 7.97% | 77.7 min |
| 7 | Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) | Florida | 2.35% | 68.6% | 9.69% | 70.2 min |
| 8 | Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) | Pennsylvania | 2.10% | 75.0% | 11.03% | 85.5 min |
| 9 | Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) | Texas | 2.13% | 75.0% | 8.75% | 84.4 min |
| 10 | Logan International Airport (BOS) | Massachusetts | 2.30% | 73.5% | 9.35% | 74.8 min |
Based on flights during last year’s Thanksgiving and Christmas travel periods.
1.LaGuardia Airport, New York
LaGuardia is the worst airport to fly through for the holidays. Over last year’s Thanksgiving and Christmas travel period, more than 4 in 100 flights were canceled, the highest share of any airport on the list. Of the flights that did take off, only about 63% landed on time, meaning more than a third arrived late. A plane running behind from its previous trip held up about 1 in 10 flights, and travelers stuck in a delay waited nearly an hour and 20 minutes on average.
2.Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey
Newark Liberty takes second place with one of the worst cancellation records. Nearly 4 in 100 flights were scrapped over the holidays, a bigger share than anywhere except LaGuardia. The flights that did leave were hard to count on too, with about 69% arriving on time and more than 3 in 10 landing late. Delayed travelers at Newark waited more than an hour and 20 minutes on average.
3.Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington, D.C.
Reagan National ranks third, largely because late planes set off a chain reaction. More than 1 in 9 flights were held up by an aircraft arriving late from its previous trip, the highest share on the list, which helps explain why only about 66% of flights landed on schedule, the second-lowest rate after LaGuardia. Nearly 3 in 100 flights were canceled outright, and delayed passengers waited about 79 minutes.
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4.John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York
JFK comes in fourth, with plenty of canceled flights and long waits. More than 3 in 100 flights were called off during last year’s holiday rush, the third-highest rate in the ranking. About 73% of flights that went ahead arrived on time, so more than 1 in 4 landed late, and once a flight was delayed, passengers waited more than 80 minutes on average.
5.Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Michigan
Detroit rounds out the top five, thanks in large part to winter weather. Nearly 2 in 100 flights were delayed by bad weather last Thanksgiving and Christmas, about 3.5 times the typical rate, and only Minneapolis-Saint Paul saw a higher share. More than 1 in 40 flights were canceled, just 73% landed on time, and delays dragged on for nearly 82 minutes, the longest wait in the top five.
6.Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Minnesota
Minneapolis-Saint Paul has the worst holiday weather problem of any airport on the list. Weather delayed nearly 2 in 100 flights, the highest share in the ranking. Roughly 1 in 40 flights were canceled, about 74% arrived on time, and delayed travelers waited close to 78 minutes on average.
7.Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Florida
Sunshine does not guarantee a smooth trip. Fort Lauderdale had one of the lowest on-time rates in the ranking, with fewer than 69% of flights arriving on schedule, the third-lowest on the list, and nearly 1 in 10 flights were held up by a late-arriving plane. The silver lining: its average delay of about 70 minutes was the shortest of all ten airports.
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8.Philadelphia International Airport, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia’s problem is how long the waits last. Its average delay of about 85 minutes was the longest of any airport on the list, and more than 1 in 9 flights were held up by a late-arriving aircraft, the second-highest share after Reagan National. Cancellations were lower than most, at about 2 in 100 flights, and roughly 75% of flights arrived on time.
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9.Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Texas
Dallas/Fort Worth posts one of the better on-time rates in the ranking, at about 75%, but when delays hit, they hit hard. The average wait was more than 84 minutes, the second-longest on the list, and about 2 in 100 flights were canceled.
10.Logan International Airport, Massachusetts
Boston’s Logan rounds out the list. About 2 in 100 flights were canceled, roughly 74% arrived on time and nearly 1 in 10 were held up by a late-arriving plane. Weather was less of a factor than you might expect, with the lowest share of weather delays in the ranking, and the average delay ran about 75 minutes.
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How to keep these airports from ruining your trip
- Fly first thing in the morning. Early flights are less likely to be hit by delays that pile up through the day.
- Go nonstop when you can. Every connection is another chance for a late plane to strand you.
- Track your inbound plane. Late-arriving aircraft cause a large share of delays; your airline’s app shows where your plane is.
- Consider an alternative airport. Westchester or Long Island MacArthur for New York, Dulles or BWI for Washington, Palm Beach for South Florida, Providence for Boston.
- Shift your dates. Flying a few days before or after peak holidays can mean emptier planes and fewer disruptions.
Comparing airlines before you book? See our guide to the best airlines for every kind of trip.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the worst U.S. airport for holiday travel?
LaGuardia Airport in New York ranks as the worst U.S. airport for holiday travel. Over last year’s Thanksgiving and Christmas travel period, 4.24% of its flights were canceled, the highest rate in the ranking, and only 63.3% of flights arrived on time.
Which airports are the worst for holiday flight delays?
The 10 U.S. airports most likely to disrupt a holiday trip are LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, Ronald Reagan Washington National, JFK, Detroit Metropolitan, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Philadelphia, Dallas/Fort Worth and Boston Logan, based on last year’s Thanksgiving and Christmas flight data.
Why are New York airports so bad during the holidays?
LaGuardia, Newark and JFK share some of the busiest and most congested airspace in the country, so winter weather, heavy holiday demand and late-arriving planes can quickly ripple through their schedules, leading to cancellations and long delays.
Which airport has the longest holiday delays?
Philadelphia International Airport had the longest average delay in the ranking, at about 85.5 minutes, followed by Dallas/Fort Worth at about 84.4 minutes.
What is a late-arriving aircraft delay?
A late-arriving aircraft delay happens when your plane arrives late from its previous flight, pushing back your departure. At Reagan National, more than 1 in 9 holiday flights were delayed this way, the highest share in the ranking.
How can I avoid flight delays during the holidays?
Book the first flight of the day, choose nonstop flights when you can, leave plenty of time for connections, track your inbound aircraft in your airline’s app, and consider a nearby alternative airport. Flying a few days before or after peak holiday dates also helps.
Are there alternatives to the worst airports on the list?
Often, yes. New York travelers can consider Westchester County, Long Island MacArthur or New York Stewart; Washington travelers have Dulles and BWI; Fort Lauderdale travelers can look at Miami or Palm Beach; and Boston travelers can try Providence or Manchester.
This article may contain sponsored or partner content and affiliate links; see our Editorial Policy & Advertiser Disclosure. Figures reflect last year’s holiday travel periods; conditions vary year to year.
