10 Worst Airports to Fly From (Avoid Them!)
Few things are more frustrating than a delayed flight or being stranded at an airport — yet it happens all too often.
If you’re traveling through any of the airports on the list below, the chances of experiencing a delay or cancellation are significantly higher. And when it happens, you might find yourself stuck with little to no assistance or support.
NEWARK LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is a major public airport in Newark and is jointly owned by Newark and Elizabeth.
This airport has consistently ranked among the worst in the U.S. with an average delay of 20 minutes for both arrivals and departures. Airport authorities state that overcrowding in the New York airspace, bad weather conditions, and cancellations are some of the major reasons for the Newark airport’s poor performance.
It should also be noted that Newark Airport had the highest percentage of canceled flights and the lowest percentage of flights arriving and departing on time among large airports.
ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is a major international airport in Orlando, Florida, serving as the primary gateway to Central Florida. Established in 1961, it is the busiest airport in the state, handling over 19 million enplanements.
However, Orlando International Airport (MCO) is ranked the second worst airport in the U.S. to fly out of. It is also ranked the ninth least reliable airport because 32.5% of its 217,000 flights experienced some form of problem. One of the major reasons for this is overcrowding and poor planning. Terminals A and B of MCO were designed to handle only about 36 million passengers annually, but in recent years, these terminals have seen more than 50 million passengers.
MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Miami International Airport (MIA) is an international airport that operates the majority of flights from the U.S. to the Caribbean and Latin America. In 2021, MIA handled over 15 million passengers, making it the busiest airport in Florida.
Despite being such an important airport, MIA ranks as the fifth worst airport for travel in the U.S., with 24.4% of the flights delayed and 33.19% disrupted.
Some of the major reasons for the airport’s failure include poor management, outdated and broken facilities like non-functioning escalators and elevators, lack of cleanliness, and an increase in traffic, leading to long queues at baggage claims and customs.
FORT LAUDERDALE- HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is a major public airport in Broward County, Florida, serving the Miami metropolitan area. Over 700 flights to 135 domestic and international destinations fly from this airport daily.
FLL is the base for Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines. In 2022, FLL handled over 31.7 million passengers, making it one of the busiest airports in the United States.
FLL is ranked one of the worst airports in the country, with every third flight delayed. The airport is also ranked the fifth “least reliable,” with 34.4% of its 120,000 flights experiencing issues. Overcrowding and high check-in traffic are the primary reasons for the airport’s poor conditions; in 2023, there were about 35 million passengers.
GEROGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is an international airport in Houston, Texas. It is the largest hub for United Airlines and offers service to over 180 destinations in the United States and worldwide. IAH covers 10,000 acres of land and has five terminals with 131 gates.
Some major problems faced at IAH include flight delays and cancellations, with hundreds of flights being affected at times.
The airport also has other issues, like outdated facilities and a lack of amenities, which negatively impact the passenger experience. Major construction and renovation work at the airport, including the $1.4 billion Terminal E expansion, have caused significant disruptions and inconvenience for passengers navigating the facility.
DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Denver International Airport (DEN) is a major international airport in Denver, Colorado. It is the largest airport in the United States, covering over 53 square miles.
DEN is a major hub for United Airlines and Frontier Airlines, offering nonstop service to over 200 destinations across the United States and around the world. DIA is a mega airport with over 77.8 million passengers, according to an Aviation Week report. It is the third busiest airport in the U.S. and the sixth busiest globally.
Despite being a mega airport, DIA is ranked the third worst U.S. airport for on-time departures and the sixth worst mega airport in the U.S.
The major reasons behind the problems faced at DIA are poor planning and management, lack of contingency planning, integration issues around baggage handling, and operational problems like flight delays.
WASHINGTON DULLES INTERNATIONAL
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is an international airport in downtown Washington, D.C., serving the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. The airport is a hub for United Airlines and handles over 300,000 tons of cargo annually, making it a leading air cargo gateway in the Mid-Atlantic region. IAD offers nonstop service to over 125 destinations worldwide and sees an average of 60,000 passengers daily.
IAD remains the busiest airport in Virginia and the second-busiest in the Washington-Baltimore area.
Dulles is ranked the seventh worst airport to fly out of in the United States. It is one of the busiest airports in the U.S. and has one of the longest wait times, 16.3 minutes on average. Another major problem with IAD is that it takes 30 minutes to walk from one terminal to another.
The major reasons behind the problems faced by IAD are the confusing layout and the inconvenient location.
CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS INTERNATIONAL
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is a public airport in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is a fortress hub for American Airlines and features one passenger terminal with 115 gates.
CLT is also home to the Charlotte Air National Guard base and the 145th Airlift Wing of the North Carolina Air National Guard.
Charlotte Douglas Airport is one of the worst airports for on-time departures. It also ranked lowest for its facilities, such as baggage claims, bathrooms, and inclusive facilities for people with disabilities. The reasons behind the problems faced by CLT include a lack of ADA training in the staff, poor weather conditions, and chronic congestion due to overcrowding.
ST. LOUIS LAMBERT INTERNATIONAL
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) is the largest airport in Missouri, serving the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. STL provides nonstop service to over 80 destinations, both domestic and international, with more than 270 daily departures. STL is a focus city for Southwest Airlines.
STL is the ninth-worst airport to fly out of in the U.S. According to a J.D. Power survey, the airport ranked 23rd out of 27 airports in terms of passenger satisfaction. Forbes named this airport the seventh worst during Labor Day travel.
One of the main reasons for the numerous problems faced in STL is that it’s the busiest airport in Missouri and is overcrowded, leading to flight delays and cancellations.
LOUIS ARMSTRONG NEW ORLEANS INTERNATIONAL
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is an international airport in Kenner, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. MSY is known for its low elevation, standing at an average of 4.5 feet above sea level, making it one of the lowest-lying international airports globally.
MSY is rated as one of the worst airports for security wait times, with an average wait time of 20.7 minutes. The airport is also below the national average for on-time flight departures and was ranked the tenth worst airport to fly out of in the United States.
The primary reason behind the problems is the size of the airport. MSY is a small airport that cannot control a huge crowd. Other reasons include inadequate airport facilities, which often cause customers to be inconvenienced and dissatisfied.
