Currently, around 100,000 daily flights take place in the US alone. As flights increase, so do the challenges associated with making them possible and efficient. Over the past five years, the frequency of flight delays has risen from 17.3% in 2018 to a substantial 21.6% in 2023, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
With this insight in mind, a research team from BetKentucky worked to identify the US airports where travelers are most likely to experience delays. Drawing from the BTS dataset, they uncovered the leading 20 US airports that present travelers with the highest likelihood of encountering delays so far in 2023. The top five are below:
1 Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Leading the roster so far in 2023 is Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport in Florida, with a rate of delayed departures currently sitting at 31.31%.
This signifies that travelers face odds of +219 or 1 in 3.19 of encountering a departure delay from this airport.
2 Harry Reid International Airport
Nevada's Harry Reid International Airport, which serves the Las Vegas area, secures the second spot with a delayed departure rate of 28.87%. The odds of facing a delay here are +246 or 1 in 3.46.
3 Kahului Airport
Kahului Airport in Hawaii claims the third position with a delayed departure rate of 28.32%, translating to odds of +253 or 1 in 3.53.
4 Orlando International Airport
Florida's Orlando International Airport follows closely with a delayed departure rate of 27.93%. Travelers departing from here confront odds of +258 or 1 in 3.58 of experiencing delays.
5 Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport in Colorado wraps up the top five with a delayed departure rate of 27.17%. The odds of encountering a delay here are +268 or 1 in 3.68. The airport broke its all-time traffic record in June of this year.
The data encompasses both major airports, handling over 1% of the nation's annual passenger boardings, and medium hub airports, handling 0.25–1% of yearly passenger boardings.
In this analysis, a flight was considered delayed if it arrived or departed 15 minutes or more past its scheduled time, as documented in the Computerized Reservation System. This standardized criterion allowed for an objective evaluation of delays across all airports.
The reasons for delays are, of course, diverse. They can include elements such as weather conditions, air traffic congestion, and operational challenges within the airports themselves.
What stands out in the overall list of 20 airports, though, is the prominence of airports that serve major tourist destinations. In addition to the top five airports, all of which serve major tourist destinations, other airports to make the top 20 list include Palm Beach, Miami, Reno-Tahoe, and John Wayne.
While air travel is nearly always the fastest means of travel for long-distance trips, travelers must acknowledge and be prepared for persistent challenges, including flight delays and cancelations.
What other airports in the US and around the world are well-known for their delays? What are the primary reasons for those delays? Let us know in the comments below.