Top 10 and 10 worst U.S. airports with flight disruptions this summer

Lebawit Lily Gilma Bloomberg

If you’re excited about summer travel but dread the experience of a crowded airport, it’s natural to be apprehensive. According to travel-booking app Hopper, more than 24 million Americans are expected to depart U.S. airports during the 4th of July holiday alone, nearly the amount projected for the same period in 2022. doubled. The number of American travelers flying this summer is also expected to surpass that number. pre-pandemic levels.

So, even if you’ve already picked your destination, it’s still useful to know how US airports rank for flight disruptions. For starters, Las Vegas topped the list as the country with the most flight disruptions in May, according to new data from air passenger rights and reimbursement company AirHelp.

AirHelp examined more than 673,000 international and domestic flights from 672 US airports serving more than 5,000 flights in May.

Data showed 35% of flights were disrupted at Harry Reed International Airport. Delays continued at Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Denver International Airport, Honolulu International Airport and Orlando International Airport.

Specifically excluded from the list of airports to avoid: New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, all three of which will close in August 2022. It topped the list of worst airports for disruption.

There are patterns we can discern from the AirHelp data, and it’s not surprising. Confusion points to major tourist hubs and big cities as destinations. Las Vegas, Denver and Orlando are among the top 10 busiest airports in the U.S. for the weekend of July 4, according to Hopper data.

“Airports like Orlando, which have heavy traffic in the spring, often don’t adjust their staffing to accommodate that peak season,” said Eric Napoli, vice president of legal strategy at AirHelp. . “We find that this type of airport performs particularly poorly.” Hawaii’s Lihue Municipal Airport on Kauai is another example, he says. The small airport suddenly had to handle an enormous amount of traffic in May, he said.

In addition to staffing shortages, weather-related issues can have a greater impact on hub airports than on smaller or secondary airports. This may explain why some of the best performing airports in May included LaGuardia and Raleigh-Durham International Airport. One exception is Philadelphia International Airport, which did well during the May travel rush.

Of course, given the challenges surrounding US air transportation in 2020 and beyond, flight disruptions aren’t the only obstacles you may face. These include staffing shortages and changing summer weather patterns that have a domino effect on canceled flights from connecting hubs. Moving security lines that even an annual subscription to Clear Secure Inc. can’t always avoid. Meanwhile, the Transportation Security Administration said it would ramp up staff and move inspectors to busy airports ahead of the rush hour.

President Biden announced in May that the federal government would draft new rules on airline compensation to consumers when flights are canceled or significantly delayed. “What we really want is that if this bill becomes a reality, it will have a real positive effect in terms of making it easier for passengers to fly and knowing that airlines can do something about it. AirHelp’s Napoli says there is chaos.

The Biden administration is also set to begin an overhaul of U.S. aviation for the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2023 in the fall, with everything from controller and pilot staffing to runway safety technology and enhanced passenger rights. , is expected to address multiple challenges. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Airline Customer Service Dashboard, which shows travelers what benefits they can claim from various airlines in the event of cancellations or delays, will also be overhauled.

In the meantime, what can be done to address potential airport disruptions and congestion?

Stick to simple hacks. Take the first flight in the morning, choose a direct flight to avoid connection delays, and depart on a Tuesday or Wednesday to avoid crowds. Tech tools aside, have a firm humility.

Read more: How to survive the summer travel chaos: Time- and money-saving tips from the experts

“Be aware that things can go wrong,” says Napoli. “If you’re at the airport and something goes wrong, don’t yell at the people at the counter because they won’t do anything for you. Just be patient.”

Here are the airports to watch out for, avoid, or choose this summer.

**** 10 Worst U.S. Airports With Flight Failures ****

Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) Las Vegas | 34.61% of flights canceled

Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) Houston | 31.77% flights canceled

Denver International Airport (DEN) Denver | 29.58% of flights canceled

Honolulu International Airport (HNL) Honolulu | 28.83% flights canceled

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) San Francisco | 27.03% of flights canceled

Orlando International Airport (MCO) Orlando | 26.67% of flights canceled

Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL) Fort Lauderdale, FL | 26.29% of flights canceled

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) Dallas | 25.38% of flights canceled

dallas love field (DAL) Dallas | 22.62% of flights canceled

Baltimore/Washington International Airport Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) Baltimore | 22.57% flights canceled

**** 10 Best U.S. Airports with Least Disruptions ****

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) Minneapolis | 10.25% of flights canceled

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) Detroit | 11.36% of flights canceled

New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) New York City | 12.35% of flights canceled

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) Philadelphia | 13.58% flights canceled

Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) Arlington, Virginia | 14.12% of flights canceled

Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) Salt Lake City | 15.3% of flights canceled

Portland International Airport (PDX) Portland, Oregon | 15.82% of flights canceled

Raleigh Durham Airport (RDU) Raleigh, NC | 17.42% of flights canceled

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) Alexandria, Virginia | 17.44% of flights canceled

O’Hare International Airport (ORD) Chicago | 17.88% of flights canceled

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