7 Airports With the Most Delays To Avoid This Holiday Season
Written by
Crystal Mayer
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
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With the holiday season fast approaching, many people are looking to the skies for travel. As reported by CBS News, holiday flight bookings are already up from last year and set to break records. With more people headed to the airport this year, delays are likely inevitable. Some airports, however, are known to be more problematic than others.
A new study by SmartAsset ranked 75 major airports by their typical departure and arrival delay rates. Here are the seven with the most delays that travelers may want to avoid this holiday season.
Also see six ways to cut your travel costs this holiday season.
1. Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)
According to the study, Long Island’s MacArthur Airport (ISP) had the most delays, with only about 57% of flights arriving on time and 64% departing on time. Located in Islip, New York, the Long Island-based airport touts parking close to the terminal and small crowds. Unfortunately, only around 60% of flights are on time.
2. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Ranking second on the list for most delayed flights is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Located in Washington, D.C., the airport’s total on-time rate is just 62%. The airport is home to one of the busiest runways in the country, as reported by The Travel. Other factors that may contribute to the delays, according to the travel website, include inclement weather, preventable accidents and airway congestion.
3. Nome Airport (OME)
Nome Airport (OME) also ranks high on the list of airports with the most delays. Only 61% of arrivals and 63% of departures are on time. The Alaskan airport hosts a little over 3,800 flights per month. Weather is one of the primary factors in delays at the airport. Individuals booked to fly to or from the airport are encouraged to check flight status on flight tracking sites.
4. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is prone to delays. Approximately 61% of flights arrive on time and 67% of flights depart without delay.
According to the Department of Transportation, passengers are entitled to a refund if their flight is canceled by the airline and the passenger chooses not to not to travel or to accept travel credits, vouchers or another form of compensation. Passengers are also entitled to a refund if the airline significantly delays or changes a flight. Significant delays include those that are three hours or more for domestic flights and six hours or more for international ones.
5. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
With over 70,000 flights arriving and departing at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) each month, some delays are inevitable. The busy airport has a total on-time rate of about 64%, with only 59% of arrivals arriving without delay and 69% of departures taking off on time.
6. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Another popular airport to make the list of most delays is Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). The airport boasts a total on-time rate of 65%. Of the nearly 8,400 flights arriving each month, around 62% are on time, while approximately 68% of the departures take off without delay.
Travelers hoping to avoid delayed flights should try to book morning departures, according to Kayak. Early birds get the worm and an on-time flight. The travel search engine reported that passengers leaving before 10 a.m. for Thanksgiving and Christmas were 12% less likely to experience a delayed or canceled flight.
7. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Rounding out the list of the airports with the most delays to avoid this holiday season is Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). According to the SmartAsset study, around 65% of the flights arrive and depart on time.
To top if off, this airport was also ranked one of the most expensive in a recent study, as reported by USA Today. When analyzing fees and travel costs of the 50 busiest airports in North America, Dallas Forth Worth ranked the fourth most expensive.
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