A flight delay can be a traveler’s worst nightmare, and a new report revealed some airports are more delay-prone than others.
The worst offender for on-time departures of major airports across the United States was Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), which had an on-time rate of just 71.1 percent, according to 2025 Bureau of Transportation Statistics from January through May. DFW is a repeat offender, having ranked as the worst major airport for on-time departures during the same time period last year.
Passengers on the East Coast may want to pack their patience if they’re traveling through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) since the hub didn’t fare much better with an on-time departure rate of just 72 percent. Denver International Airport (DEN) came in third with a 75.3 percent on-time departure rate, followed by Miami International Airport (MIA) with a 75.7 percent on-time departure rate. The world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), came in as the fifth worst with an on-time departure rate of just 76.1 percent.
Travelers who value being on time may want to look west as three popular West Coast airports were the most punctual in the country.
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) boasted the highest on-time departure rate with more than 84 percent of all flights departing on schedule. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) ranked second thanks to an on-time departure rate of 83.9 percent, while San Francisco International Airport (SFO) took the third spot on the list with an on-time departure rate of 82.4 percent. Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)—which came out on top during the same time period last year—took the fourth spot with an on-time departure rate of 81.9 percent.
For all airports, the average on-time arrival performance was 78.1 percent, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
When it came to delays, the leading cause for hold ups was an aircraft arriving late, which can create a negative cascading effect on a carrier’s schedule. Extreme weather accounted for just 0.85 percent of all nationwide delays during the survey period, while cancelled or diverted flights accounted for 1.7 percent of all delays.
To avoid delays and minimize travel headaches, experts recommend prioritizing early morning flights, flying nonstop rather than booking a layover, selecting larger airports (with multiple connections), and researching an airline’s on-time track record. To stay on top of potential travel disruptions, passengers can also download a carrier’s mobile device in advance of their flight and register for notifications of delays or cancellations.
