United States Airport Statistics & Travel Data

InsureMyTrip issues its latest airport rankings for flight cancellations

Summary

• Chicago Midway International reported the highest cancellation rates in the country, bad storms and the groundings of 737 Max jets likely contributed to the spike.
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International continues to make an impressive on-time performance comeback in 2019.
• New York's LaGuardia no longer reports the highest percentage of canceled flights in the country. The NYC airport now ranks 8th, a significant improvement.
• California wildfires led to a significant increase in flight cancellations for Burbank last year.
• Salt Lake City International in Utah and Kahului Airport in Hawaii maintain a consistent reputation for punctuality, celebrating another year of shocking low cancellations.

This ranking shows U.S. airports with the most and least percentage of flights canceled. This updated list is based on newly released data, which now includes all of 2019.

Rank/Airport

Dealing With Flight Delays

Each airline has its own flight delay policy for passengers waiting at the airport; there are no federal requirements. Travelers concerned about delays should be aware of the following:

• Generally, early departures are less likely to be delayed.
• Book a non-stop flight (no stops).
• When booking, ask the airline about the on-time performance percentage for an individual flight.
• Closer to departure, check real-time airport data. This will provide timely information on weather concerns or air traffic delays.
• Be aware of "creeping delays." This is when an airline continues to push back a departure time it can sometimes be extended for hours or lead to a cancellation.
• If a flight is delayed, try to learn the reason why to better gauge if the flight is in jeopardy of being canceled. Reasons for delays may include maintenance, fueling, crew issues, weather, previous flight with the same aircraft arrived late, causing the present flight to depart late, or security issues.
• Some flights will be delayed on the tarmac before or after take-off. As a general rule, DOT prohibits flights to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours.

Passengers with departing flights at busier airports should consider travel insurance with robust travel delay benefits.

To schedule an interview with an expert or to request specific research data, please contact news@insuremytrip.com.

In an effort to help empower travelers to make more informed decisions when it comes to holiday travel preparations, InsureMyTrip predicts which U.S. airports will likely be the busiest, and reviews how the latest data trends can aid travelers when comparing travel insurance benefits.

Summary:

• Chicago O’Hare International and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International will be the busiest airports in the country during the 2019 holiday season
• Passengers should check crowd-sourced airport security wait times by using the My TSA application and prepare for longer lines during Christmas week
• Passengers with departing flights at busier airports are more likely to utilize a travel delay benefit and, therefore, may want to compare travel insurance policies with better delay protection

Busiest Airports This Christmas

According to InsureMyTrip, this is the list of busiest airports for Christmas week, based on total domestic flights reported for 2019 thus far:

InsureMyTrip analyzed non-stop domestic flights by major air carriers collected in 2019 thus far by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Longest Estimated Security Wait Times

According to InsureMyTrip, here’s a general look at the time of the week when security wait times for passengers tend to be the longest:

Both the TSA and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provide information on wait times at airports and border crossings. While security wait times are dynamic, travelers can check crowd-sourced airport security wait times by using the My TSA app prior to departure.

Best Protection for Flight Delays

Based on these data results, travelers can make smarter choices about their travel plans and travel insurance purchases. For example, passengers with departing flights at busier airports are more likely to utilize a travel delay benefit and, therefore, may want to compare travel insurance policies with better delay protection.

Travel delay benefits vary with each travel insurance provider, generally between a 5 and 24-hour window. The benefit is designed to provide reimbursement for reasonable meals and accommodations while unable to travel.

Tip: Travelers must be delayed for a certain number of hours before this benefit can be applied. When comparing travel insurance, look for the minimum delay time (typically, starting at 5 hours) to start qualifying for coverage as soon as possible.

Best Protection for Delayed Bags

Travelers may also want to ensure baggage delay coverage is included under a selected comprehensive travel insurance plan. Baggage delay coverage generally becomes active after belongings have been delayed for a specified period of time, typically 12 or 24 hours.

Tip: When comparing travel insurance, look for a maximum per-person coverage amount as well as a per-day limit. For example, some policies may offer $500 per person to purchase incidentals, but only allow $200 to be spent per day.

Best Protection for Missing Cruise Departure

For those concerned about a delayed flight adversely affecting a cruise or tour departure, travelers may also want to ensure a missed connection benefit is included under a selected comprehensive travel insurance plan. This benefit is designed to provide travelers with coverage if a delayed flight (for example, of 3 hours or more) causes a traveler to miss a cruise departure.

Flight cancellation policies vary by airline and circumstance. When an airline cancels a flight due to bad weather, most will try to rebook passengers on the next available flight.

Airlines are not required to reimburse travelers for losses incurred as a result of a canceled flight, including:

• Hotel fees
• All-inclusive vacation or resort fees
• Cruise payment
• A pre-paid tour or safari
• Concert or entertainment tickets

Travelers concerned about protecting any pre-paid, non-refundable trip expenses should buy a travel insurance policy that features flight insurance benefits.

In an effort to help empower passengers to make more informed decisions while traveling during the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season, InsureMyTrip predicts which U.S. airports are most prone to delays and cancellations and what passengers should know about airline policies.

Airpot Delay Data Summary:

• Researchers ranked the on-time performance for the busiest airports in the Eastern U.S., the part of the country that is most impacted by tropical storms.*
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is ranked the best overall for handling delays and cancellations during hurricane season. It is also the busiest.
• Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia, and John F. Kennedy International are ranked the worst overall for delays and cancellations during hurricane season. All three airports are twice as likely to report a weather delay than any other airport on the list.
• Passengers should anticipate flight disruptions when a storm develops. Nationwide, flight cancellations soared for major U.S. airports in August and September last year due to storms.

Overall U.S. Airport Data Ranking (Worst to Best)

1. Newark, NJ: Newark Liberty International
2. New York, NY: LaGuardia
3. New York, NY: John F. Kennedy International
4. Houston, TX: George Bush Intercontinental/Houston
5. Washington, DC: Ronald Reagan Washington National
6. Dallas/Fort Worth, TX: Dallas/Fort Worth International
7. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
8. Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia International
9. Boston, MA: Logan International
10. Baltimore, MD: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall
11. Dallas, TX: Dallas Love Field
12. Orlando, FL: Orlando International
13. Houston, TX: William P Hobby
14. Miami, FL: Miami International
15. Washington, DC: Washington Dulles International
16. Fort Myers, FL: Southwest Florida International
17. Raleigh/Durham, NC: Raleigh-Durham International
18. Austin, TX: Austin - Bergstrom International
19. Tampa, FL: Tampa International
20. Charlotte, NC: Charlotte Douglas International
21. Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh International
22. Nashville, TN: Nashville International
23. San Antonio, TX: San Antonio International
24. New Orleans, LA: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International
25. Atlanta, GA: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International

Data Methodology

*U.S. airports were ranked by the InsureMyTrip travel data team. Data combined three years of on-time performance statistics for the 25 busiest airports (based on the volume of flight operations) located in Eastern U.S. On-time performance data included weather delays for airports — including those attributed to extreme weather conditions and delays under the control of the National Airspace System (NAS). The proportion of weather delays to the number of flights was also calculated in addition to the overall number of delays and minutes of delays. Researchers also reviewed the percentage of cancellations (domestic arrivals and departures). Data was obtained by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), the agency that tracks the on-time performance of domestic flights operated by large air carriers.

Researchers evaluated on-time data for selected airports during the 2015, 2016, and 2017 hurricane season. The official hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th (Source: NOAA).

Peak months for hurricane and tropical storm activity also appears to correlate with a higher number of canceled flights nationwide. For example, the highest percentage of all flights canceled in 2017 were reported during August and September. These months also experienced high storm activity along the Atlantic and Gulf Coast.

Top reasons given for a flight cancellation in 2017 by all reportable U.S. airports.

Flight data obtained by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. National Aviation System cancellations can also be due to weather.

U.S. Airport Data Summary

• New York's LaGuardia reports the highest percentage of canceled flights in 2017. Winter Storm Stella was a contributing factor, causing the number of grounded flights to soar last March.
• For the first time in five years, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) reports more flight cancellations than Chicago O'Hare International (ORD). December's power outage at ATL contributed to the spike. Data analysts predicted this outcome.
• Despite the rise in canceled flights for Atlanta, the airport was average, in terms of percentages — with 1.49 percent of scheduled departures calling it quits.
• Bad weather is the top reason for flight delays and cancellations.
• Overall, flight delays are far more common than canceled flights.
• The list shows the airports with the biggest percentages of flights canceled in 2017.

Data Source: The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) tracks the on-time performance of domestic flights operated by large air carriers.

U.S. Airport Flight Cancellation Summary

• For the first time in five years, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) is reporting more flight cancellations than Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) and this doesn't even include the power outage cancellations from this week.
• Weather is the top reason for flight cancellations and delays nationwide.
• If a flight is canceled, most airlines will rebook travelers on next available flight at no additional charge. However, airlines are not required to reimburse travelers for losses incurred as a result of a canceled flight.