These U.S. Airports Cancel the Most Flights Around the Holidays
There’s a peculiar kind of optimism that sweeps across the country every holiday season. Maybe this year’s travel will be smooth. Maybe the plane won’t be delayed. Maybe we won’t sleep on the airport floor next to a vending machine while our gate gets changed for the sixth time.
Spoiler alert: that optimism is often crushed under the wheels of holiday air travel chaos.
While we celebrate with cheery songs and flavors, the truth is that America’s busiest airports often become scenes of delays, canceled flights and weather chaos. So, thanks to the research done by Locals Insider and Upgraded Points, we understand better which places face the greatest holiday travel complications.
Let’s take a look at which airports are the worst offenders and which ones are the best.
The Airports That Just Can’t Keep It Together
A number of airports have built a reputation for stressful holiday travel by frequently delaying or cancelling flights during peak times.
Holiday dreams could be at risk of being delayed or cancelled altogether at these 10 airports, according to statistics from the Local Insider analysis:
| RANK | AIRPORT | DELAY/CANCELLATION RATE |
| 1 | Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) | 29.2% |
| 2 | Orlando International (MCO) | 25.8% |
| 3 | Chicago Midway (MDW) | 25.2% |
| 4 | Southwest Florida International (RSW) | 23.3% |
| 5 | San Francisco International (SFO) | 23.1% |
| 6 | Tampa International (TPA) | 22.9% |
| 7 | Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) | 22.4% |
| 8 | William P. Hobby (HOU) | 22.0% |
| 9 | Logan International (BOS) | 21.5% |
| 10 | Kansas City International (MCI) | 21.4% |
Even though Florida is known for its sun and palm trees, it’s not always dependable for getting you home for the holidays. And Chicago? It’s pretty much a long shot every December.
Top 10 U.S. Airports for Flight Cancellations (2023)
Delays are annoying, sure. But cancellations? That’s the stuff of travel nightmares. In 2023 alone, these airports led the pack in giving holiday travelers an unplanned extended stay:
| RANK | AIRPORT NAME | CANCELED FLIGHTS |
| 1 | Denver International (DEN) | 4,617 |
| 2 | Orlando International (MCO) | 4,117 |
| 3 | Harry Reid International, Las Vegas (LAS) | 3,458 |
| 4 | Los Angeles International (LAX) | 3,204 |
| 5 | Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) | 3,106 |
| 6 | San Francisco International (SFO) | 2,770 |
| 7 | Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | 2,710 |
| 8 | Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) | 2,667 |
| 9 | Logan International (BOS) | 2,366 |
| 10 | John F. Kennedy International (JFK) | 2,078 |
Denver takes the not-so-coveted gold medal, likely due to brutal winter weather. But Las Vegas? Your luck might run out before you even leave the tarmac.
Airports Most Disrupted by Bad Weather
Holiday weather can be very unpredictable and some airports have to deal with it more than others. And according to Upgraded Points Study, these airports experienced the most delays due to weather:
| RANK | AIRPORT | WEATHER DELAY RATE |
| 1 | San Francisco International (SFO) | 42.3% |
| 2 | Newark Liberty International (EWR) | 42.1% |
| 3 | LaGuardia Airport (LGA) | 38.3% |
| 4 | Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | 38.1% |
| 5 | Logan International (BOS) | 31.3% |
With fog, snow, and freezing rain as regular holiday guests, it’s no wonder these airports struggle to stay on schedule.
Least Weather-Delayed Airports
If you’d prefer to fly before Santa has finished his snack, these airports are your best choice to fly through:
| Rank | Airport (Code) | Least Weather-Delay Rate |
| 1 | Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International (HNL) | 11% |
| 2 | William P. Hobby (HOU) | 12.3% |
| 3 | Los Angeles International (LAX) | 12.4% |
| 4 | Dallas Love Field (DAL) | 12.7% |
| 5 | San Diego International (SAN) and Miami International (MIA) | 13.1% (Tied) |
If you closely see each of these airports it’s no coincidence that the most reliable airports are in warm-weather cities.
Holiday Travel Survival Tips from the Pros
If changing your departure airport isn’t an option, don’t despair. Here are a few sanity-saving strategies to improve your odds:
- Fly Early in the Day – Morning flights are less prone to delays.
- Avoid Peak Days – The day before Thanksgiving and the weekend after Christmas? Travel at your own risk.
- Pack Smart – Bring snacks, power banks, and a neck pillow—your future self will thank you.
- Stay Updated – Sign up for airline alerts and download flight tracker apps.
- Prepare Plan B (and C) – Know your rebooking rights and have alternative routes in mind.
Final Approach: Choose Your Airport Wisely
We can’t change the weather, the number of staff or technical issues, but we can decide where we fly from. That decision could decide if you end up at Grandma’s house one time or in a crowded airport with irritated travelers.
And so, if you’re going to a cabin in the snow or a beach somewhere warm, be aware of which airports to avoid and which ones might make your trip more enjoyable.
