Few experiences frustrate travelers more than a delayed flight. Whether caused by weather, technical issues or mechanical problems, flight disruptions can derail carefully planned trips and cause stress, missed connections and unexpected expenses.
AirHelp, an organization that advocates for air passengers’ rights, analyzed data from major U.S. airports and identified which hubs saw the highest number of disrupted flights in 2018. Their findings reveal that several of the country’s busiest airports also topped the list for delays.
Leading the list was Chicago O’Hare International Airport, which recorded 115,900 disrupted flights—far more than any other U.S. airport that year. In fact, every airport among the top ten experienced at least 50,000 delayed or otherwise disrupted flights in 2018, underscoring how common disruptions are even at major, well-equipped airports.
Below are the airports that saw the most disruptions, per AirHelp’s 2018 data:
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport: 115,900 disrupted flights
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport: 75,600 disrupted flights
- Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport: 75,400 disrupted flights
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport: 61,700 disrupted flights
- Newark Liberty International Airport: 61,300 disrupted flights
- Los Angeles International Airport: 60,700 disrupted flights
- Denver International Airport: 59,100 disrupted flights
- San Francisco International Airport: 51,500 disrupted flights
- New York John F. Kennedy International Airport: 50,800 disrupted flights
- Boston Logan International Airport: 50,100 disrupted flights
Understanding which airports historically experience the most disruptions can help travelers plan more effectively. When flying through a high-disruption airport, consider allowing extra connection time, monitoring weather and flight-status alerts closely, and preparing for contingency plans such as alternate routes or flexible tickets. Awareness and preparation won’t eliminate delays, but they can reduce the impact on your travel experience.