Summer is a busy season for air travel, and delays can be just as significant as those experienced in winter. A recent analysis of U.S. Department of Transportation on-time arrival data over the past decade highlights which airports perform best and worst during the summer months.
The study from Milecards.com examined arrival records from 2007 through 2016 and identified several major hubs with notably low on-time performance. Three of the four airports with the poorest summer punctuality are in the New York metropolitan area: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) recorded on-time arrivals at just 66.5 percent, LaGuardia Airport (LGA) at 66.9 percent, and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) at 69.2 percent. These airports ranked first, second, and fourth lowest, respectively, for on-time summer arrivals over the ten-year period.
Other airports with low summer on-time performance included San Francisco International Airport (69.0 percent) and Boston Logan International Airport (72.1 percent), placing them among the most delayed large airports in summer.
Additional airports that appeared in the list of the top ten worst summer performers were Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, Miami International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and John Glenn Columbus International Airport. These hubs face a mix of congestion, weather impacts, and operational constraints that contribute to departure and arrival delays during peak travel months.
On the other end of the spectrum, several airports consistently delivered strong on-time performance in summer. Hawai‘i’s Kahului Airport (OGG) and Honolulu International Airport (HNL) topped the list as the best-performing airports for timely summer arrivals. Their high on-time rates reflect relatively stable weather patterns, efficient operations, and less air-traffic congestion compared with major mainland hubs.
Other airports that ranked among the highest for on-time summer arrivals included Salt Lake City International Airport, John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Portland International Airport, Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, San Jose International Airport, Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport, and Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. These airports benefit from favorable weather, streamlined procedures, or infrastructure that helps keep flights operating on schedule during busy travel periods.
For travelers planning summer trips, these findings underscore the importance of considering airport-specific patterns when booking flights. Choosing flights that depart from or arrive at airports with stronger on-time records, flying during less congested times of day, and allowing extra buffer time for connections can help reduce the impact of summer delays on travel plans.