Worst US Airports for Winter Travel Disruptions

Image: Crowded terminal at Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport. (Photo Credit: Brian Walker/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus)
Image: Crowded terminal at Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport. (Photo Credit: Brian Walker/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus)
Patrick Clarke
by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 1:00 PM ET, Tue December 12, 2023

Experts at online travel marketplace Hopper recently examined historical and current disruption rates from major U.S. airports to reveal the worst hubs for winter and holiday travel.

Denver International (DEN), Orlando International (MCO) and Las Vegas' Harry Reid International (LAS) Airports top the unfortunate list, with roughly one in four flights disrupted on departure in the last three months.

The data isn't far off from last year's holiday travel period when disruption rates at each airport were above 30 percent. Meanwhile, approximately 6 percent of departing flights were canceled at each airport.

In the New York City area, Newark Liberty International (EWR) and John F. Kennedy International (JFK) Airports also struggle when it comes to getting holiday travelers to their destination on time.

It doesn't help that airlines have been forced to scrap departures at the airports due to an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers that's forced the FAA to limit flights from the region.

Travelers should also anticipate potential disruptions when flying out of Chicago and Dallas as Chicago Midway International (MDW), Dallas Love Field (DAL) and Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) also rank among the worst with anywhere from 20 to 24 percent of flights being disrupted on departure over the last three months.

Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) and South Florida's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) round out Hopper's list of the worst U.S. airports for winter travel this year. 

DEN, MCO, LAS, DFW and JFK will also be among the nation's busiest airports this winter, Hopper found, with estimated Christmas week departing passengers ranging from just under 700,000 to over 1 million.


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Patrick Clarke

Patrick Clarke

Senior Editor

A Maryland native and wanderer who has lived across the U.S. from North Carolina to SoCal, Patrick Clarke graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in journalism. He previously worked for Bleacher

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