Between weather, mechanical issues and extremely busy airports packed with passengers, there’s a high chance your flight could be delayed or canceled during the busy holiday travel period. With a record-setting number of Americans planning to travel for the year-end holidays and the potential for winter storms, the airport you use could make a difference in whether you experience a flight disruption. Now thanks to new research, we know which ones are the most reliable.
- A new study from eSIM service Saily ranks U.S. airlines and airports based on their on-time performance over the last two holiday seasons.
- And it shows that regional airlines tend to do better than major carriers since they operate on a small scale and usually fly shorter routes.
- "Holiday travel puts enormous pressure on airports and airlines, and even small delays can quickly add up," explains Saily CEO Vykintas Maknickas. "Knowing which hubs typically run smoothly helps travelers plan better – whether that means choosing a different connection or simply adding a bit of buffer time."
The Top 5 Best Airlines For Being On-Time During The Holidays
- Republic Airlines – 86.79% on time
- Delta Air Lines – 85.17% on time
- Endeavor Air – 83.89% on time
- Hawaiian Airlines – 83.50% on time
- United Airlines – 83.46% on time
The 5 Worst Airlines For Delays During The Holidays
- JetBlue Airways – 69.89% on time
- Allegiant Air – 75.79% on time
- Spirit Airlines – 76.21% on time
- Frontier Airlines – 76.22% on time
- PSA Airlines – 76.22% on time
The Top 5 Airports With The Best On-Time Performance During The Holidays
- Salt Lake City International Airport – 85.91% on time
- Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport – 84.08% on time
- Los Angeles International Airport – 83.03% on time
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport – 82.54% on time
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport – 82.42% on time
The 5 Airports With The Worst On-Time Performance During The Holidays
- Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport – 69.72% on time
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport – 71.16% on time
- San Diego International Airport – 78.49% on time
- Miami International Airport – 75.23% on time
- Orlando International Airport – 76.22% on time
Source: USA Today
Scott's Thoughts:
- Would it even feel like the holidays if there wasn’t at least a two-hour flight delay?
- I refuse to fly during the holidays. Y'all can have it!
- 2 hours across the Virginia line to see mama is the only driving I am interested in!!