Jackpot City Casino (JPC) recently studied 60 US airports and ranked them by the number of flight delays. The fewest delays were found at three eastern US airports and two on the west coast. Notably, only one airport is a major hub for a legacy carrier.
Here are the top five airports with the fewest flight delays:
1. Washington Dulles International Airport
Delayed departures: 14%
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), a hub for United Airlines based in Chicago, had the least amount of delays out of all 60 airports in the study. Sharing traffic with Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), IAD recorded a departure delay percentage of only 14%. United operates approximately 220 daily flights from IAD.
As part of its international operation, United offers more than 25 daily nonstop flights to various destinations:
- 14 European destinations
- Two Asian destinations
- 13 Latin American and Caribbean destinations
- Four Canadian destinations
Additionally, IAD was recently named the second-best airport in the US and 11th-best worldwide by AirHelp.
2. Pittsburgh International Airport
Delayed departures: 14.3%
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) ranked second with a delayed departure percentage just over 14%. Fifteen airlines serve PIT, with Southwest Airlines being the largest carrier. Passengers can also travel internationally from PIT on Air Canada and Icelandair (seasonal).
According to Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), PIT’s primary routes include Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Orlando International Airport (MCO). Southwest Airlines serves both routes alongside Delta Air Lines at ATL and Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines at MCO.
In 2021, PIT became globally recognized as it implemented a microgrid powered entirely by natural gas and solar energy.
3. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Delayed departures: 14.3%
Tied with PIT is Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). Located in Boone County, Kentucky but serving Cincinnati's tri-state area, CVG is not a hub for any US legacy carrier but hosts operating bases for some airlines along with significant cargo operations.
Delta previously considered CVG as a hub before reducing it to a focus city after merging with Northwest Airlines in 2011 post-bankruptcy in 2005.
According to BTS data:
- ATL is served by Delta and Frontier
- Denver International Airport (DEN) is served by Allegiant Air, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, and United
- MCO is served by Delta, Frontier,and Southwest
4. Boise Airport
Delayed departures: 14.4%
Boise Airport (BOI) had fourth-fewest departure delays at just .01% higher than PIT/CVG figures.
Nine mainline carriers serve BOI including Alaska Airlines & Southwest as largest ones.
Alaska announced new services expanding BOI’s network further starting December/January across multiple new destinations such as John Wayne/SNA Bozeman Yellowstone/BZN & MCO respectively.
Top markets per BTS include:
-Seattle-Tacoma Intl.(SEA)-served via Alaska&Delta,
-DEN-via Southwest&United,
-Salt Lake City Intl.(SLC)-via Delta,
5.San José Mineta Intl.Airport(SJC)
Delayed Departures :14 .6 %
San José Mineta Intl.Airport(SJC)is Bay Area's southernmost among three sharing regional demand despite being larger city population-wise yet sandwiched between SFO&OAK making viable alternative choice.
Southwest leads followed closely behind Alaska,
Frontier resumes DEN service month-end while planning further expansion later year targeting LAS,LAX ,PHX,SAN.Top markets SAN followed SEA&LAX per BTS .
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