The Best and Worst US Airports for Flight Delays

Pent-up demand, staffing shortages due to the pandemic and the upcoming holiday season signal the potential for significant flight delays this fall and winter. But knowing what airports to target and which to avoid could be the difference between a stress-free getaway or an unexpected headache. The Family Vacation Guide recently revealed the U.S. airports facing flight delays most and least frequently based on data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics' "Airline On-Time Statistics and Delay Causes" for the period of July 2019 to July 2021. Here's a look at the 10 airports that fare the best and the 10 that fare the worst when it comes to punctuality heading into the holiday season.

One of four California airports among the top 10 best for on-time flights, Oakland International Airport ranks 10th roughly 15.1 percent of flights arriving late or being canceled.

With an on-time percentage of nearly 85 percent, Sacramento International Airport is among the most reliable in the country. Low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines, one of the busiest carriers at SMF, boasts an on-time percentage of over 83 percent and has likely played a significant role in the airport's standing.

When it comes to Southern California, Orange County's John Wayne Airport takes the crown for on-time performance with a late or canceled rate of just 14.88 percent. The top carriers at SNA, including Southwest, American Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, all arrive on-time better than 81 percent of the time, according to the latest BTS data.

Portland International Airport is the best in the Pacific Northwest, keeping travelers on schedule 85.23 percent of the time. It also helps that PDX is a hub for Alaska Airlines, which ranks fifth in the country with an on-time percentage of 83.18.

A focus city for Alaska Airlines and a significant airport for the equally punctual Southwest, Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport in California's Silicon Valley sees flights delayed or canceled only 14.3 percent of the time.

In the Midwest, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport ranks fifth-best in the nation when it comes to getting travelers to their destination on time. The airport's delayed or canceled rate of 13.1 percent is welcome news for travelers with DTW on their ticket but especially those making a connection with limited downtime to spare.

Utah's Salt Lake City International Airport has developed quite the reputation for being among the country's best for on-time performance. Some of that success can be attributed to SLC being a hub for Delta Air Lines, which ranks second for on-time performance among the major U.S. carriers at a rate of 86.69.

With nearly nine out of 10 flights arriving on time, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is undoubtedly the best in the Midwest when it comes to punctuality. Another hub for Delta, MSP's flights arrive on time an incredible 87.27 percent of the time.

The world's busiest airport is also one of the best when it comes to getting passengers to their destination on time, with approximately 12.68 percent of flights arriving late or being canceled. It helps that ATL is a hub for one of the most punctual carriers in Delta Air Lines, which posted an on-time arrival percentage of 86.69.

Hawaiian Airlines boasts the best on-time percentage (89 percent) of the 13 U.S. airlines studied and the carrier's hub in Honolulu also fared the best in terms of on-time arrivals with an impressive mark of 88.31 percent. In addition to Hawaiian, United, Southwest, American and Delta are some of largest airlines operating at HNL.

Back on the mainland and on the other end of the spectrum, San Francisco International Airport is tied for the 10th most late or canceled flights with travelers encountering unexpected delays at a rate of 18.79 percent. SFO is a hub for the punctual Alaska but also United Airlines, which ranks fifth-worst in the country when it comes to on-time performance (81.4 percent).

Tying SFO for 10th-most delayed, John F. Kennedy International is one of three New York City airports to rank among the top 10 when it comes to flight disruptions heading into the holiday season. Flights arriving into JFK are on-time only 81.21 percent of the time, more than seven perentage points fewer than HNL.

With a late or canceled rate of over 19 percent, San Antonio International Airport ranks ninth-worst in the nation for welcoming travelers on-time but SAT can take solace in the fact that it's not the worst airport in Texas when it comes to flight delays and cancellations.

Tourists set to travel to the Theme Park Capital of the World won't be happy to learn that Orlando International Airport performs eighth-worst in terms of on-time arrivals with 19.22 percent of flights arriving in MCO getting to the gate late or being outright canceled.

NOElsewhere in the South, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport sees flight delays or cancellations 19.39 percent of the time. Interestingly, MSY is situated a little more than four feet above sea level, making it the second lowest-lying international airport in the world and therefore more susceptible to severe storms and inclement weather.

Boston Logan International Airport is tied with MSY for the sixth-worst nationwide for frequent flight delays. Arrivals at BOS are on time just 80.61 percent of the time, which is still considerably better than the last-ranked airport if travelers to the Northeast are looking for a silver lining.

Flight arrivals at Palm Beach International Airport are behind schedule nearly one out of five times but somehow PBI still doesn't rank as the worst airport in Florida for frequent flight delays.

South Florida is another trouble spot when it comes to arriving on time. About one hour south of PBI is where you'll find Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, which welcomes late flights or experiences cancellations more than 20 percent of the time.

Like many of the airports in these rankings, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is incredibly busy. It was the third-busiest airport in the world by aircraft movements and the fourth-busiest in the world by passenger traffic in 2020 and remains the largest hub for American Airlines, which barely edges DFW's on time percentage of 79.23 with its own 81.45.

LaGuardia Airport has some work to do if it's to claim bragging rights in NYC as the airport's dismal on-time percentage of 77.48 places it second to last in the country. Somehow, it still has ways to go to catch up to the number one domestic airport for frequent flight delays.

With nearly one in four flights either arriving late or canceled altogether, Newark Liberty International Airport located just outside of New York City boasts the unfortunate distinction of being the nation's leading airport when it comes to flight disruptions. It's worth noting that EWR is another hub for United Airlines, which ranks fifth-worst in the U.S. when it comes to punctuality.