U.S. Airport Statistics & Flight Cancellation Data

In an effort to empower passengers to make informed decisions when booking flights, InsureMyTrip has done some research on the performance records of U.S. airports and domestic flights. This resource page provides airline delay and cancellation data for airports in the United States. This information can be used by researchers to make predictions regarding how air travel will likely be impacted during certain times of the year. It can also be helpful for passengers when researching types of travel insurance plans.

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U.S. Airport Delays & Cancellations – 2025

InsureMyTrip analyzed the latest flight delay and cancellation data gathered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) to get a deeper understanding of the impact of weather, system outages, flight disruptions, staffing issues, and other factors, on U.S. airports in 2025.

Summary:

• Washington Reagan National (DCA) tops both problem lists, with the highest delay rate (27.63%) and the highest cancellation rate (4.57%) in the country – making it the least reliable major airport overall.
• Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) also shows up on both problem lists, ranking among the top 10 for delays (24.54%) and cancellations (3.44%).
• The Eastern U.S. airports dominate the worst lists (DCA, EWR, ORF, BUF, JAX, MEM), with high delays and cancellations, while Western airports consistently perform best (SLC, SJC, OAK, PHX, LAX, OGG, HNL), ranking among the lowest for delays and cancellations.
• Several airports had strong reliability across both categories: Salt Lake City (SLC), San Jose (SJC), Oakland (OAK), Phoenix (PHX), Los Angeles (LAX), and Maui’s OGG all ranked in the top 10 for both fewest delays and fewest cancellations.
• Hawaii airports shine: Both OGG (Maui) and HNL (Honolulu) are among the best for minimal delays, while OGG also lands in the top 10 for lowest cancellation.

U.S. Airports with Highest Percentage of Flight Delays in 2025

1. DCA – 27.63% Ronald Reagan Washington National
2. PBI – 27.19% Palm Beach International
3. EWR – 26.33% Newark Liberty International
4. TYS – 26.18% McGhee Tyson Airport (Knoxville)
5. CVG – 25.15% Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International
6. ORF – 25.02% Norfolk International
7. BUF – 24.96% Buffalo Niagara International
8. JAX – 24.65% Jacksonville International
9. DFW – 24.54% Dallas Fort Worth International
10. MEM – 24.50% Memphis International

U.S. Airports with Lowest Percentage of Flight Delays in 2025

1. OGG – 10.67% Kahului Airport
2. HNL – 14.17% Daniel K. Inouye International
3. SLC – 15.16% Salt Lake City International
4. SJC – 16.23% San Jose Mineta International
5. OAK – 16.50% Oakland San Francisco Bay
6. SNA – 17.05% John Wayne Airport (Santa Ana)
7. PDX – 17.33% Portland International
8. LAX – 17.58% Los Angeles International
9. SMF – 17.86% Sacramento International
10. PHX – 18.09% Phoenix Sky Harbor International

U.S. Airports with Highest Percentage of Flight Cancellations in 2025

These flight delay and cancellation rankings are generated from the top 75 busiest U.S. airports based on arriving flights. These updated lists use the latest available data, which includes January through June of 2025.

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U.S. Airport Delays & Cancellations – 2024

InsureMyTrip analyzed the latest flight delay and cancellation data gathered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) to get a deeper understanding of the impact of weather, system outages, flight disruptions, staffing issues, and other factors, on U.S. airports in 2024.

Summary:

• San Francisco International (SFO) topped the delay list with 29.50% of flights delayed, while Newark Liberty International (EWR) had the highest cancellation rate at 2.63%.
• Florida dominates the delay rankings, with five airports (PBI, FLL, TPA, MCO, MIA) making the top 10 for highest delay percentages. Texas shows up twice with DFW and SAT.
• Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW), Orlando International (MCO), and Tampa International (TPA) were the only three airports to appear on both the most-delayed and most-canceled lists in 2024.
• Boise Airport (BOI) had one of the best overall performances in the country, ranking in the top 10 for both fewest delays (17.94%) and the lowest cancellation rate (0.51%).
• Three airports – SLC, BOI, SJC – ranked among the top 10 for both fewest delays and fewest cancellations, signaling strong year-round reliability for travelers.

U.S. Airports with Highest Percentage of Flight Delays in 2024

1. SFO – 29.50% San Francisco International
2. SJU – 26.11% San Juan Airport – Luis Muñoz Marín International
3. PBI – 24.73% Palm Beach International
4. FLL – 24.22% Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
5. SAN – 23.87% San Diego International
6. DFW – 23.65% Dallas/Fort Worth International
7. TPA – 23.32% Tampa International
8. MCO – 23.22% Orlando International
9. SAT – 23.08% San Antonio International
10. MIA – 22.93% Miami International

U.S. Airports with Lowest Percentage of Flight Delays in 2024

1. OGG – 12.20% Kahului Airport
2. SLC – 15.29% Salt Lake City International
3. HNL – 15.61% Daniel K. Inouye International
4. IAD – 15.62% Washington Dulles International
5. ATL – 17.17% Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
6. SNA – 17.31% John Wayne Airport (Santa Ana)
7. DTW – 17.82% Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
8. SJC – 17.83% San Jose Mineta International
9. MSP – 17.84% Minneapolis-Saint Paul International
10. BOI – 17.94% Boise Aiport

U.S. Airports with Highest Percentage of Flight Cancellations in 2024

These flight delay and cancellation rankings are generated from the top 75 busiest U.S. airports based on arriving flights. These updated lists use the latest available data, which includes January through December of 2024.

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U.S. Airports Ranked By Flight Cancellation Rates – 2023

InsureMyTrip analyzed the latest flight cancellation data gathered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) to gain a closer look at the impact of ongoing flight disruptions, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other factors, on U.S. airports.

Summary:

• San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) had the highest delay percentage (30.97%), and Newark Liberty International had the highest cancellation rate (3.03%) for 2023.
• Florida shows up six (6) times on the list of top 10 airports with the highest percentage of delays (FLL, MCO, PBI, TPA, JAX, MIA).
• San Francisco International’s (SFO) delay rate made the biggest jump in 2023. In 2022, SFO was #70 (17.05%) on the list of airports with the most delays. In 2023 SFO jumped 57 spaces to #13 (22.64%).
• The majority of airports with the highest cancellation rates are on the East Coast (EWR, LGA, JFK, ORF, BUF, BOS, FLL); while the airports with the lowest cancellation rates can be found out west (GEG, BOI, PHX, SEA, SLC, ABQ, SJC).

This ranking shows the busiest U.S. airports with the most and least percentage of flights canceled. This updated list is based on newly released data, which includes January through December of 2023. The above findings compare 2023 with the same time period in 2022.

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U.S. Airports Ranked By Flight Cancellation Rates – 2022

InsureMyTrip analyzed the latest flight cancellation data gathered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) to gain a closer look at the impact of ongoing flight disruptions, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other factors, on U.S. airports.

Summary:

• Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) has the highest cancellation rate in the country for 2022: 5.55% – up from 1.43% in 2021. That’s an increase of 286.77%.
• LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York City saw the largest increase in canceled flights – from 1471 in 2021 to 8795 in 2022 – a 497.89% jump.
• Only eight (8) airports (MSY, RNO, DFW, IAH, HOU, KOA, SAT, MEM) had a lower percentage of cancellations in 2022 than in 2021.
• Hawaii airports maintain a consistent reputation for low cancellations. Three of that state’s airports (KOA, OGG, HNL) report the lowest percentage of canceled flights in 2022.

This ranking shows the busiest U.S. airports with the most and least percentage of flights canceled. This updated list is based on newly released data, which includes January through December of 2022. The above findings compare 2022 with the same time period in 2021.

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U.S. Airports Ranked By Flight Cancellation Rates – 2021

InsureMyTrip analyzed the latest flight cancellation data gathered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) to gain a closer look at the impact of COVID-19, and other factors, on U.S. Airports.

Summary:

• Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport reported the highest cancellation rates in the country for 2021 with an average cancellation rate of 5.18%.
• Three (3) airports in Texas – DFW, HOU, and DAL – made the top 10 list for most flight cancellations.
• Hawaiian airports (KOA, OGG, HNL) maintain a consistent reputation for punctuality.
• Overall, cancellations were significantly down in 2021 compared to 2020, the peak of the pandemic.

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 January through December of 2021.

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U.S. Airports Ranked By Flight Cancellation Rates – 2020

InsureMyTrip analyzed the latest flight cancellation data gathered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) to gain a closer look at the impact of COVID-19, and other factors, on U.S. Airports.

Summary:

• Hollywood Burbank Airport reported the highest cancellation rates in the country so far this year with an average cancellation rate nearing 10 percent. In 2019, Hollywood Burbank averaged around 3.88 percent of flights canceled.
• Chicago, Buffalo, New Orleans, San Jose, and Las Vegas also reported high volume of flights canceled.
• Despite unpredictable weather patterns common to the area, Ted Stevens Anchorage International reported the lowest percentage of cancellations (2.47%) of the top 75 busiest airports.

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 January through December of 2020.

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Busiest U.S. Airports Ranked by Flight Cancellation Rates – 2019

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 [email protected].