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30 major US airports with the most departure delays, ranked

30 major US airports with the most departure delays, ranked

Roya Shahidi Business 25 Aug, 2026 Americas

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics found that Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida had the lowest on-time departure rate.

Travelers with luggage and a stroller stand in front of LAX departures and arrivals flight information screens.
LAX is one of the top airports in the US with departure delays.

Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images

  • Flights are considered on time if they depart from the gate within 15 minutes of the scheduled time.
  • Salt Lake City International Airport had the highest on-time departure performance.
  • Meanwhile, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport had the lowest.

If you're hoping to get to your destination on time, the airport you fly from could make a difference.

The following ranking is based on Bureau of Transportation Statistics data of major airports' on-time departure performance, covering January through June 2026.

The BTS has compiled this data from monthly on-time reports filed by US passenger airlines. A flight is considered on time if it departs from the gate less than 15 minutes after its scheduled departure time.

To provide context on airport scale and airline mix, additional information for each airport has also been compiled from BTS.

The number of scheduled flights for departures covers the 12 months ending May 2026. The top carriers also cover the period from June 2025 to May 2026 and are calculated based on passenger shares for both arrivals and departures.

It's important to note that delays at many of these airports are contingent on weather conditions, such as hurricanes in Florida, New England snowstorms, and Arizona's heat. That could explain why some of these airports are on this list.

Here are the 30 major US airports ranked by on-time departure performance, from best to worst:

30. Salt Lake City International Airport
Delta Airlines planes sit parked at the gate at Salt Lake City International Airport.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 83.73%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 121,882

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: Delta 56.35%, SkyWest (15.98%), Southwest (10.42%)

29. Washington Dulles International Airport
Travelers make their way to through the parking garage tunnel to the security checkpoint at Washington Dulles International Airport.

Finn Gomez/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 82.20%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 96,869

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: United (58.85%), Mesa (5.67%), Delta (3.88%)

28. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Crowded airport terminal concourse at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with travelers, a large woven overhead sculpture, cafe seating, escalators, and retail signs.

Mak Studio/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 79.66%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 188,049

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: Alaska (48.63%), Delta (19.70%), SkyWest (7.68%)

27. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
Spacious airport terminal concourse at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport with a circular skylight ceiling, columns, passengers, seating, and gate G18 signage.

Davslens Photography/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 79.03%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 142,608

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: Delta (56.73%), SkyWest (9.31%), Endeavor (5.79%)

26. Newark Liberty International Airport
Spacious airport terminal hall at Newark Liberty International Airport with travelers, retail shops, kiosks, flight display boards, and a high ribbed ceiling.

Mak Studio/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 79.02%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 138,322

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: United (60.12%), Spirit* (7.57%), American (5.70%)

*Spirit Airlines is no longer operating and ceased operations in May 2026.

25. George Bush Intercontinental Airport
George Bush Intercontinental Airport entrance sign stands beside trees, landscaping, and a stop sign under a clear sky.

hapabapa/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 79.01%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 173,551

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: United (56.94%), Mesa (9.87%), Spirit (5.62%)

24. Los Angeles International Airport
Commercial jet descends over a large LAX sign near airport roadways at colorful sunset.

Ekaterina Chizhevskaya/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 78.76%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 201,013

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: Delta (22.38%), United (18.69%), American (17.69%)

23. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Multi-level indoor atrium at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport with a skylight, central clock tower, seating areas, trees, and travelers with luggage.

Kirkikis/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 77.44%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 348,958

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: Delta (74.72%), Frontier (7.00%), Southwest (4.53%)

22. Philadelphia International Airport
Airport terminal and air traffic control tower overlook illuminated runways and gates at dusk.
At Philadelphia International Airport, the airline with the biggest passenger carrier share by far is American.

Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 77.08%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 130,566

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: American (47.43%), Frontier (11.83%), Delta (6.43%)

21. John F. Kennedy International Airport
Colorful apple sculpture stands inside JFK airport terminal near a large "Welcome to New York" sign.

AlexandreFagundes/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 76.38%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 124,603

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: Delta (33.27%), JetBlue (30.54%), American (12.85%)

20. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Airport control tower and terminal buildings stand before mountains under a cloudy sky.
The air traffic control tower at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Melissa Kopka/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 76.18%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 208,792

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: Southwest (34.51%), American (32.75%), Delta (6.95%)

19. Denver International Airport
People walking through Denver International Airport.

Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 76.14%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 326,928

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: United (40.69%), Southwest (30.40%), Frontier (9.85%)

18. Boston Logan International Airport
Airport check-in hall with empty queue barriers, numbered counters, and international flags hanging overhead.
Boston Logan International Airport

Alexander Farnsworth/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 76.07%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 161,772

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: JetBlue (27.10%), Delta (22.14%), American (13.93%)

17. Tampa International Airport
An aerial view of Tampa International Airport.

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 75.85%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 84,484

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: Southwest (25.57%), Delta (19.29%), American (16.71%)

16. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Travelers with luggage move through a bright airport terminal beneath a red DELTA train on an elevated track.

JHVEPhoto/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 75.80%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 144,924

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: Delta (54.32%), SkyWest (10.44%), Spirit (9.56%)

15. Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Slow-moving conveyor or autowalk with a group of travelers inside Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

TrongNguyen/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 75.57%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 237,042

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: American (67.78%), Delta (2.15%), Frontier (1.93%)

14. San Diego International Airport
In an aerial view, airplanes are parked at San Diego International Airport's Terminal 2.

Kevin Carter/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 74.04%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 104,990

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: Southwest (35.48%), Alaska (13.50%), United (12.24%)

13. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Passengers arrive at the South Terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
The South Terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Jay Janner/The Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 73.52%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 91,854

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: Southwest (42.29%), Delta (15.73%), American (14.66%)

12. San Francisco International Airport
A view of the welcome sign at the San Francisco International Airport.
A view of the welcome sign at San Francisco International Airport.

Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 73.42%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 149,754

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: United (47.38%), Delta (10.62%), SkyWest (9.85%)

11. Harry Reid International Airport
Travelers walk through a terminal at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Harry Reid International Airport is located in Las Vegas.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 73.21%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 181,954

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: Southwest (44.34%), Delta (10.06%), United (8.98%)

10. Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport with international flags, palm trees, and tropical landscaping under a partly cloudy sky.

AlexandreFagundes/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 72.96%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 115,040

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: American (61.27%), Delta (11.87%), United (6.61%)

9. LaGuardia Airport
Passengers walk through the terminal at LaGuardia Airport.
LaGuardia is located in Queens, New York City.

Al Drago/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 72.09%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 159,367

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: Delta (25.19%), American (14.82%), Endeavor (10.27%)

8. Orlando International Airport
Travelers move through Orlando International Airport with palm trees, balconies, skylight, and a large U.S. flag.

Ancient Aftertone/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 71.79%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 169,849

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: Southwest (26.49%), Delta (14.40%), Frontier (12.26%)

7. Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Travelers walk through the Chicago O'Hare International concourse decorated with pink ribbon banners and an American flag.
Chicago O'Hare International is one of the world's busiest airports.

Colin Thompson/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 71.03%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 384,095

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: United (38.55%), American (22.70%), SkyWest (9.88%)

6. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Travelers walk by airplanes with Southwest Airlines on the tarmac at the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 70.74%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 96,660

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: Southwest (73.15%), Delta (6.02%), Spirit (4.86%)

5. Nashville International Airport
Travelers make their way to the gates during a temporary ground stop at the Nashville International Airport.

Seth Herald/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 69.97%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 112,706

Top carriers in June 2025*: Southwest (50.1%), American (14.8%), Delta (13.3%).

*BTS does not have information on Nashville International's top carriers. Instead, this data has been collated from the airport's annual report, which shows average daily scheduled arrivals and departures for June 2025.

4. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
An aerial view of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is seen on August 6, 2026, in Arlington, Virginia with runways, control tower, aircraft, and surrounding wooded office areas.

Kevin Carter/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 69.87%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 141,917

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: American (27.59%), Southwest (14.03%), Delta (9.59%)

3. Chicago Midway International Airport
Bright airport check-in hall with Southwest counters, holiday ornaments, directional signs, and a COVID-19 travel order notice.
By far the largest carrier by passenger share at Chicago Midway is Southwest.

Joe Hendrickson/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 69.30%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 74,133

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: Southwest (93.52%), Frontier (3.11%), Delta (1.58%)

2. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
An American Airlines jet is towed on an airport apron in front of a glass terminal building at Dallas-Fort Worth.

kameraworld/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 68.22%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 315,953

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: American (66.69%), Envoy Air (10.79%), Frontier (4.64%)

1. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Travelers queue at an airport security checkpoint below signs for Gates A-B-C and United counters.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport had the lowest on-time departure rate.

felixmizioznikov/Getty Images

On-time departure rate, January-June 2026: 66.39%

Scheduled flights, June 2025-May 2026: 91,994

Top carriers, June 2025-May 2026: Spirit (23.13%), JetBlue (21.61%), Delta (15.53%)

Read the original article on Business Insider

Roya Shahidi

Source: Business Insider

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