When it comes to traveling, the holidays can be the most stressful time of the year.
Crowded terminals, overbooked flights, and icy runways can lead to delays, cancellations, and plenty of holiday headaches at the airport.
In 2023, TSA checkpoint travel numbers reached 17.1 million during the week of Thanksgiving and 51 million throughout the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. With so many travelers departing from airports across the country during the holiday season, you can expect the unexpected.
But which airports are the best and worst for holiday travel?
To find out, LocalsInsider.com took an in-depth look at flight punctuality data across the United States, specifically focusing on departures during the holiday season. We analyzed flight record data provided by the Bureau of Transportation to determine which airports are the worst to depart from during the holidays.
Our study ranks the top 50 largest airports within major cities across the U.S. based on their track record of delayed and canceled flights during the holiday season. Additionally, we also determined which airports have the best punctuality and on-time flight departures.
Highlights:
- Among the top 10 worst airports for holiday travel, four are in Florida: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International, Orlando International, Southwest Florida International, and Tampa International.
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International tops the list, with more than 30% of flights being canceled or delayed during the holidays, which is more than 2,600 flights.
- One in four holiday flights are canceled or delayed during the holiday season at both Chicago Midway International and Orlando International.
- Best airports for holiday travel: Washington Dulles International, Minneapolis-St Paul International, and Salt Lake City International.
Which airports have the most delayed flights during the holidays?
Whether you’re flying out of sunny Florida or trying to dodge the brutal winter windchill in the Midwest, holiday headaches await at airports across the country. However, Fort-Lauderdale-Hollywood International takes the top spot for delays, with nearly 30% of the airport’s departures being delayed or canceled throughout the holiday season.
Top 10 Worst Airports during the Holidays
#1. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Leaving Florida during the winter can be difficult for several reasons. Travelers not only leave behind warm weather, but they also face long delays and cancellations. Overall, nearly 30% of departing flights at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International are either delayed or dropped during the holiday season.
Holiday Season Delay and Cancellation Rate: 29.2%
#2. Orlando International (Orlando, FL)
It’s among one of the nation’s busiest airports for holiday travel, so it might not come as a surprise that Orlando International is also home to the most delayed and dropped flights during the holiday season. Overall, 4,175 flights were delayed or dropped in 2023 during the holidays, which is one in four flights.
Holiday Season Delay and Cancellation Rate: 25.8%
#3. Chicago Midway International (Chicago, IL)
If you’re flying out of Chicago and looking for an on-time departure, you might want to head across town to Chicago’s O’Hare International rather than Midway International. Only 15% of flights are delayed or dropped at O’Hare during the holidays, compared to 25% at Midway.
Holiday Season Delay and Cancellation Rate: 25.2%
#4. Southwest Florida International (Fort Myers, FL)
Fort Myers is one of four Florida cities on the top 10 list of the worst places for holiday travel. Overall, 23% of holiday flights are either delayed or canceled at Southwest Florida International in Fort Myers.
Holiday Season Delay and Cancellation Rate: 23.3%
#5. San Francisco International (San Francisco, CA)
Flying out of the West Coast this holiday season? Be prepared for disruptions if you’re departing from San Francisco International. Last year, 2,813 flights were either dropped or canceled during the holidays, which was 23% of all scheduled flights.
Holiday Season Delay and Cancellation Rate: 23.1%
#6. Tampa International (Tampa, FL)
When it comes to flying, the holiday season brings logistical chaos at Tampa International. Among the airport’s 7,831 scheduled flights, 1,794 were delayed or canceled last holiday season.
Holiday Season Delay and Cancellation Rate: 22.9%
#7. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (Baltimore, MD)
Not only does Baltimore’s airport have the longest name on our list, it’s also home to long delays and outright cancellations. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, more than 2,000 flights are either delayed or canceled across the Thanksgiving and winter holidays at Baltimore’s Washington International Thurgood Marshall.
Holiday Season Delay and Cancellation Rate: 22.4%
#8. William P Hobby (Houston, TX)
Although Houston’s William P Hobby experiences fewer departing flights compared to other airports on our top 10 list, it’s still prone to disruptions. Overall, more than one in five (22%) of departing flights are either delayed or canceled during the holidays.
Holiday Season Delay and Cancellation Rate: 22%
#9. Logan International (Boston, MA)
With more than 11,000 scheduled flights taking off from Boston’s Logan International during the holidays, disruptions are inevitable. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, more than one in five flights (21%) are delayed or dropped at Logan International.
Holiday Season Delay and Cancellation Rate: 21.5%
#10. Kansas City International (Kansas City, MO)
Kansas City International may not be the busiest airport on our list, but it still makes the top 10 list of worst airports for holiday travel. Overall, more than one in four (21.4%) of flights are disrupted during the holiday season.
Holiday Season Delay and Cancellation Rate: 21.4%
America’s Best Airports for Holiday Travel
If punctuality is essential for your holiday travel season, you might want to consider airports with a better track record of on-time departures.
When it comes to timeliness and consistency, look no further than Washington Dulles International in Washington, D.C. Overall, 88.6% of scheduled flights depart on-time at Washington Dulles International, which is the highest percentage on our list of the nation’s top 50 busiest airports.
Coming in at No. 2 for the best airports for holiday travel is Minneapolis-St Paul International, with 87.4% of flights departing on time. Salt Lake City International, George Bush Intercontinental, and Ronald Reagan Washington National round out the top five airports.
Interestingly, some of America’s highest-volume international airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (29,732 scheduled holiday flights) and Chicago O’Hare International (25,032 scheduled holiday flights), are also home to the most on-time departures during the holidays.
Top 5 Holiday Travel Tips
Book an early morning flight
Wherever you’re traveling during this holiday season, make sure you plan ahead. If possible, try to book your flight early in the morning. Historically, early morning flights are less prone to delays.
Arrive to the airport early
Typically, it’s best to arrive two hours before domestic flight departure time and three hours for international flights, but it’s best to give yourself more time when you’re traveling during the holidays.
Book a direct flight
The holiday season is plagued with delayed and canceled flights, so booking a flight directly can save you additional headaches in the event that your flight is disrupted.
Pack light and ship gifts ahead of time
Can’t fit all those holiday gifts into your luggage? Try shipping your gifts directly to your destination ahead of time. Even the TSA recommends shipping your wrapped gifts rather than packing them in your luggage or carry-on.
Apply for TSA PreCheck
Shorter lines at airport security could make or break your experience at the airport this holiday season. TSA PreCheck provides a faster screening process and is available at more than 200 U.S. airports.
Methodology
To determine our ranking, we analyzed airline on-time departure statistics and delay causes from the 50 largest airports across the country based on passenger volume. Statistics were analyzed during the holiday travel season from Nov. 17, 2023, to Jan. 3, 2024. Delay causes include air carrier delay, weather, security, national aviation system delay, late-arriving aircraft, diverted flights as well as canceled flights. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics defines the Thanksgiving travel period from Nov. 17 – 28, and the winter holiday travel period from Dec. 14 - Jan. 3, 2024. Our analysis includes data from both holiday travel periods.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, TSA, Airline Service Quality Performance
Fair Use: Feel free to use this data and research with proper attribution linking to this study or directly to LocalsInsider.com.
