During a recent research to identify the US airports experiencing the most significant delays, experts conducted an analysis of flight information sourced from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, covering the period from April 2023 to March 2024. A flight was classified as delayed if it departed 15 minutes or more later than its scheduled time.
Identifying the airports with the highest delay rates offers valuable insights into their reliability. This information can guide travelers’ future arrangements, allowing them to steer clear of the airports with frequent delays or to prepare for possible disruptions, ultimately contributing to a more seamless and less stressful travel experience.
The research revealed that Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida experiences the highest delay rate in the United States, with 31.9% of its departing flights (29,235 out of 91,561) delayed over the past year. Notably, 17,043 of these delayed flights were attributed to air carrier delays, while 16,323 delays were linked to issues within the national aviation systems.
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Maryland holds the second position, exhibiting a flight delay rate of 28.9%, which translates to 28,338 delayed flights out of a total of 97,918 departures. The predominant cause of these delays was attributed to air carrier issues, affecting 16,466 flights, while 14,800 delays were due to late arrivals of aircraft.
Aspen/Pitkin County Airport in Colorado ranks third, with a delay rate of 27.5%, representing 1,686 delayed flights out of 6,129 total departures. Among these, 579 delays were linked to air carrier problems, and 523 were caused by delays within the national aviation system.
Orlando International Airport in Florida ranks fourth, experiencing a flight delay rate of 27%, which translates to 45,171 delays out of a total of 167,595 flights. Of these, 26,292 delays were attributed to national aviation systems, while 26,180 were due to air carrier issues.
In fifth place is Chicago Midway International Airport in Illinois, with a delay rate of 26%, affecting 21,902 out of 84,342 flights. The airport reported 12,623 delays caused by late-arriving aircraft and 12,327 delays resulting from air carrier factors.
Miami International Airport in Florida holds the sixth position, with 25.5% of its 105,843 flight departures delayed, amounting to 27,002 flights. This airport noted 16,536 delays linked to national aviation systems and 16,023 delays attributed to air carrier operations.
Harry Reid International Airport in Nevada ranks seventh, with 25.1% of its total departures, amounting to 48,327 out of 192,629, experiencing delays. The airport noted 28,330 delays attributed to late-arriving aircraft and 27,573 delays caused by air carrier issues.
In eighth place is Denver International Airport in Colorado, where 24.8% of departures, or 75,611 out of 304,562, were delayed. The airport reported 47,240 delays due to air carrier problems and 39,492 delays resulting from late arrivals of aircraft.
Dallas Love Field in Texas occupies the ninth position, with 23.7% of its flights, totaling 17,845 out of 75,240, encountering delays. The airport recorded 10,459 delays due to late-arriving aircraft and 9,358 delays attributed to air carrier issues.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas secures the tenth position, with 22.7% of its flights (67,237 out of 296,515) experiencing delays over the past year. The airport reported a total of 42,027 flights affected by air carrier delays and 36,003 flights delayed as a result of late arrivals of aircraft.
