About 1 in 5 passengers who flew in the U.S. this year have had to deal with the misfortune of their flight leaving late. Even though airlines publish their schedules, they don't guarantee them.
These days, flight delays are trending higher and higher, according to statistics from the Department of Transportation. In 2018 and 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the average share of departure delays for flights in the U.S. was 19% and 19.5%, respectively. In 2022 and 2023 (as of August), departure delays were up to 21.5% and 22%, the highest average in nearly a decade.
Unlike the more generous regulations in the European Union, U.S. carriers are not obligated to compensate passengers for flight delays. However, each company has its own policy, so travelers may be able to get something in exchange for the headache of a delay. It's always advisable to check with the airline to see if they will make accommodations, such as rebooking on a different flight or providing meal vouchers.
Since the federal government doesn't require airlines to provide passengers with delay protections, it's up to the flying public to ensure a delayed flight doesn't ruin plans. When traveling for an immovable event like a wedding or cruise, for example, consider leaving a day in advance to add a buffer for any potential delays. Some
travel insurance policiesalso compensate for long delays and could provide reimbursem*nts for food, hotels, and more.
It's wise to be particularly cautious when flying from certain U.S. airports that report more flight delays across all U.S. airlines than others.
TravelPerkexplored 25 of the biggest airports in the country and ranked them according to the share of departure flights that experience delays, using data from the
Department of Transportation
from September 2022 to August 2023.
Continue reading to find out if your nearest airport is prone to pushing back flight times.
Rank
City
Total Flights
% Flight Delayed (>= 15 mins)
Median Minutes Delayed
1
Baltimore/Washington International
92,636
31.20%
16
2
Orlando International
158,419
30.30%
22
3
Denver International
288,782
29.30%
16
4
Harry Reid International (Las Vegas)
187,617
29.10%
18
5
Miami International
100,401
26.60%
21
6
Newark Liberty International
144,038
25.90%
20
7
Dallas/Fort Worth International
279,358
25.10%
23
8
John F. Kennedy International
136,057
24.30%
23
9
George Bush Intercontinental/Houston
139,511
23.70%
18
10
Austin-Bergstrom International
91,862
22.60%
17
Logan International (Boston)
141,691
22.50%
21
12
Phoenix Sky Harbor International
171,771
22.40%
15
13
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
330,268
22.00%
17
14
Nashville International
94,327
21.60%
15
15
Charlotte Douglas International
206,146
20.90%
19
16
Chicago O'Hare International
277,274
20.70%
18
17
LaGuardia (New York)
168,772
20.50%
23
18
San Francisco International
134,948
20.40%
15
19
Los Angeles International
192,726
19.70%
16
20
Philadelphia International
98,234
18.40%
20
21
Seattle/Tacoma International
175,949
18.20%
13
22
Ronald Reagan Washington National
143,183
18.10%
19
23
Detroit Metro Wayne County
124,715
17.80%
18
24
Salt Lake City International
108,272
17.60%
14
25
Minneapolis-St Paul International
120,552
16.70%
16
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25. Minneapolis-St Paul International
- City: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 120,552
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 16.7%
- Median minutes delayed: 16
- Most common destinations: DEN, ORD, ATL
24. Salt Lake City International
- City: Salt Lake City, Utah
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 108,272
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 17.6%
- Median minutes delayed: 14
- Most common destinations: DEN, PHX, LAX
23. Detroit Metro Wayne County
- City: Detroit, Michigan
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 124,715
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 17.8%
- Median minutes delayed: 18
- Most common destinations: ATL, ORD, LGA
22. Ronald Reagan Washington National
- City: Washington, D.C.
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 143,183
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 18.1%
- Median minutes delayed: 19
- Most common destinations: BOS, ATL, LGA
21. Seattle/Tacoma International
- City: Seattle, Washington
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 175,949
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 18.2%
- Median minutes delayed: 13
- Most common destinations: PDX, ANC, LAX
20. Philadelphia International
- City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 98,234
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 18.4%
- Median minutes delayed: 20
- Most common destinations: MCO, ATL, BOS
19. Los Angeles International
- City: Los Angeles, California
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 192,726
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 19.7%
- Median minutes delayed: 16
- Most common destinations: SFO, LAS, JFK
18. San Francisco International
- City: San Francisco, California
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 134,948
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 20.4%
- Median minutes delayed: 15
- Most common destinations: LAX, JFK, SEA
17. LaGuardia
- City: New York, New York
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 168,772
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 20.5%
- Median minutes delayed: 23
- Most common destinations: ORD, BOS, ATL
16. Chicago O'Hare International
- City: Chicago, Illinois
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 277,274
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 20.7%
- Median minutes delayed: 18
- Most common destinations: LGA, LAX, DCA
15. Charlotte Douglas International
- City: Charlotte, North Carolina
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 206,146
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 20.9%
- Median minutes delayed: 19
- Most common destinations: MCO, LGA, ATL
14. Nashville International
- City: Nashville, Tennessee
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 94,327
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 21.6%
- Median minutes delayed: 15
- Most common destinations: LGA, ORD, CLT
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13. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
- City: Atlanta, Georgia
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 330,268
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 22.0%
- Median minutes delayed: 17
- Most common destinations: MCO, LGA, FLL
12. Phoenix Sky Harbor International
- City: Phoenix, Arizona
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 171,771
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 22.4%
- Median minutes delayed: 15
- Most common destinations: DEN, LAS, SEA
11. Logan International
- City: Boston, Massachusetts
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 141,691
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 22.5%
- Median minutes delayed: 21
- Most common destinations: DCA, LGA, JFK
10. Austin - Bergstrom International
- City: Austin, Texas
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 91,862
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 22.6%
- Median minutes delayed: 17
- Most common destinations: DFW, DEN, LAX
9. George Bush Intercontinental/Houston
- City: Houston, Texas
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 139,511
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 23.7%
- Median minutes delayed: 18
- Most common destinations: DFW, LAX, DEN
8. John F. Kennedy International
- City: New York, New York
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 136,057
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 24.3%
- Median minutes delayed: 23
- Most common destinations: LAX, SFO, BOS
7. Dallas/Fort Worth International
- City: Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 279,358
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 25.1%
- Median minutes delayed: 23
- Most common destinations: LAX, ATL, LGA
6. Newark Liberty International
- City: Newark, New Jersey
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 144,038
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 25.9%
- Median minutes delayed: 20
- Most common destinations: MCO, ATL, LAX
5. Miami International
- City: Miami, Florida
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 100,401
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 26.6%
- Median minutes delayed: 21
- Most common destinations: ATL, JFK, LGA
4. Harry Reid International
- City: Las Vegas, Nevada
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 187,617
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 29.1%
- Median minutes delayed: 18
- Most common destinations: LAX, DEN, SEA
3. Denver International
- City: Denver, Colorado
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 288,782
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 29.3%
- Median minutes delayed: 16
- Most common destinations: LAS, PHX, SLC
2. Orlando International
- City: Orlando, Florida
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 158,419
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 30.3%
- Median minutes delayed: 22
- Most common destinations: ATL, EWR, SJU
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1. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall
- City: Baltimore, Maryland
- Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 92,636
- Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 31.2%
- Median minutes delayed: 16
- Most common destinations: ATL, MCO, BOS
Story editing by Jaimie Etkin. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.
