Waiting is an unavoidable part of air travel. Passengers face delays, tarmac waits, and layovers that can quickly derail travel plans. But some airports are bigger culprits than others when it comes to wasting travelers’ precious time.
The Upgraded Point research team analyzed data from the 40 busiest airports in the United States. On average, passengers lose 29 minutes due to departure delays and taxi-out times. 12 of those minutes are lost from departure delays, while another 17 minutes are spent waiting on the runway before takeoff.
While a half-hour of wasted time may seem tolerable, certain airports exceed this average. They identified the airports that keep passengers grounded the longest, giving flyers the information they need to manage their expectations and plan accordingly.
Equipped with this data, travelers can make more informed decisions about their journeys. By understanding which airports are most prone to delays, flyers can adjust their schedules, select alternate routes, or arrive at the terminal closer to their departure times.
Minimizing wasted time is key to reducing the stress and frustration often associated with air travel.
Top 5 US Airports with Most Delays
The US airports keep passengers grounded the longest, wasting valuable travel time.
1. Miami International Airport (MIA)
- Departure Delay: 24.6 minutes
- Taxi-Out Time: 22.6 minutes
- Average Wasted Time: 47.1 minutes
Miami International Airport (MIA) stands out for having the longest average departure delay at 24.6 minutes. It also has the second-longest average taxi-out time at 22.6 minutes, resulting in the most total wasted time among the airports analyzed.
2. San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Departure Delay: 20.5 minutes
- Taxi-Out Time: 20.8 minutes
- Average Wasted Time: 41.3 minutes
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has the second longest average waste time among the other airports. With a departure delay of around 20.5 minutes and an average Taxi-out time is 20.8 minutes that makes the total average delay 41.3 minutes.
3. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Departure Delay: 19.2 minutes
- Taxi-Out Time: 18.7 minutes
- Average Wasted Time: 37.9 minutes
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) has a total average delay of around 37.9 minutes, which puts it in the third position on the list. Departure delay is around 19.2 minutes and taxi-out delay time is 18.7 minutes.
4. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Departure Delay: 15.8 minutes
- Taxi-Out Time: 21.1 minutes
- Average Wasted Time: 36.9 minutes
In the Fourth place, we have Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), the total average delay time is around 36.9 minutes which is just 0.3 minutes more than the fifth position. The departure delay is around 15.8 minutes and the taxi-out delay is around 21.1 minutes.
5. LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
- Departure Delay: 13.5 minutes
- Taxi-Out Time: 23 minutes
- Average Wasted Time: 36.5 minutes
LaGuardia’s average departure delay is only slightly above the overall average, its taxi-out time of 23 minutes is the longest in the study. This discrepancy is likely due to the airport’s limited runway space, which requires more time for planes to maneuver.
Equipped with this data, travelers can make more informed decisions about their journeys and choose airports that minimize wasted time.
Top 5 US Airports with Shortest Wait Time
Here is the list of 5 Airports that have the shortest wait time among others.
1. Kahului Airport (OGG)
- Departure Delay: 5.7 minutes
- Taxi-Out Time: 10.5 minutes
- Average Wasted Time: 16.2 minutes
Kahului Airport (OGG) leads the study with the shortest delays and tarmac times. Its smaller size and lower passenger traffic contribute to these efficient times.
2. Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)
- Departure Delay: 5.9 minutes
- Taxi-Out Time: 12.4 minutes
- Average Wasted Time: 18.2 minutes
Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) maintains the second shortest wait times. Its departure delays average 5.9 minutes and taxi-out times reach 12.4 minutes, resulting in a total average delay of 18.2 minutes.
3. William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
- Departure Delay: 7.6 minutes
- Taxi-Out Time: 11.8 minutes
- Average Wasted Time: 19.4 minutes
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) secures the third position for efficiency. Passengers experience average departure delays of 7.6 minutes and taxi-out times of 11.8 minutes, totaling 19.4 minutes of wait time.
4. Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
- Departure Delay: 8.7 minutes
- Taxi-Out Time: 12 minutes
- Average Wasted Time: 20.7 minutes
Sacramento International Airport (SMF) follows closely with minimal delays. Its departure delays average 8.7 minutes and taxi-out times of 12 minutes create a total average delay of 20.7 minutes.
5. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
- Departure Delay: 6.3 minutes
- Taxi-Out Time: 15.8 minutes
- Average Wasted Time: 22 minutes
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) demonstrates remarkable efficiency despite being the world’s busiest airport. It maintains the fifth-shortest wait times with departure delays of just 6.3 minutes and taxi-out times of 15.8 minutes.
These statistics reveal significant variations in airport efficiency across the United States. The national average of 29 minutes of wasted time serves as a benchmark for travelers planning their routes through major airports.
Airports with Shortest and Longest Layovers in the US
The average layover in the United States is around 3 Hours 34 Minutes. Here is the list of Airports with Least and Most Layover time in the United States.
Airports with Longest Layover Time
| Rank | Airport | Layover Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului Airport (OGG) | 5 Hour 8 Minutes |
| 2 | Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) | 4 Hour 34 Minutes |
| 3 | Miami International Airport (MIA) | 4 Hour 24 Minutes |
| 4 | San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | 4 Hour 14 Minutes |
| 5 | Sacramento International Airport (SMF) | 4 Hour 7 Minutes |
| 6 | Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) | 4 Hour 5 Minutes |
| 7 | John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) | 4 Hour 4 Minutes |
| 8 | Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) | 4 Hour 2 Minutes |
| 9 | Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) | 4 Hour |
| 10 | Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) | 3 Hour 59 Minutes |
Hawaii’s airports lead the rankings due to their remote location and lower flight frequencies. Miami and San Francisco’s positions as coastal hubs contribute to their extended layover times.
Airports with Shortest Layover Time
| Rank | Airport | Layover Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Antonio International Airport (SAT) | 2 Hour 46 Minutes |
| 2 | Dallas Love Field (DAL) | 2 Hour 47 Minutes |
| 3 | Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) | 2 Hour 48 Minutes |
| 4 | St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) | 2 Hour 49 Minutes |
| 5 | Kansas City International Airport (MCI) | 2 Hour 51 Minutes |
| 6 | Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) | 2 Hour 52 Minutes |
| 7 | Midway International Airport (MDW) | 2 Hour 55 Minutes |
| 8 | Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) | 3 Hour |
| 9 | Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) | 3 Hour 1 Minute |
| 10 | John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) | 3 Hour 5 Minutes |
The central location of these airports enables more direct flights across the United States, reducing necessary layover durations. Their geographic positioning creates efficient connections between the east and west coasts.
These findings help travelers plan routes with minimal connection times, especially for cross-country journeys.
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