Most-Delayed Airports in America

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Each month, the U.S. Department of Transportation releases its list of the most-delayed airports in America. The list pinpoints the most delayed flights, by airline and flight number (and destination) and, what a surprise, not much changes from month to month.

The Worst Offenders

The number-one airport for delays in the U.S.? Newark (but LaGuardia is not far behind). In fact, of the 100 most delayed flights over the past year, 40 either took off or landed at Newark. The biggest offending flights? Delta’s Flight 2743 from Newark to Atlanta, which is late more than 60 percent of the time. Number two? The next Delta flight to Atlanta, Flight 2843, which is late almost 50 percent of the time.

The Cause

The reason for this is NOT weather. (Weather only makes these statistics even worse). It’s unrealistic scheduling.

If a runway has the capacity to handle 20 take offs in any one-hour period (about one every 3 minutes), Then why are the airlines allowed to schedule 34 flights departing at 8 a.m. or 5 p.m.? That’s delusional. that’s also compounded by the number of small regional jets, which take up as much gate space and radar space as widebody planes.

Getting Around it

Aim for the very first flight of the day. Seek alternative airports. Think creatively in terms of routing, and not fly to, or through, the biggest offending delay airports. My advice: Fly Oakland instead of San Francisco, Islip instead of LaGuardia, Providence instead of Boston. My favorite alternate airport is Milwaukee instead of Chicago. In fact, a recent study commissioned by Milwaukee’s General Mitchell airport, conducted by Harris Interactive,?showed that 92 percent of U.S. adults who��ve flown through an alternative airport in the past year would do so again. The same survey showed that only 19 percent say they always or often search for alternative airports online.

Until the DOT make rules to match flight departures and arrivals with the actual capacity of individual runways at individual airports, this problem will continue. In the meantime, you should always log on and get that monthly list from the DOT. It will go a long way towards helping you avoid loser flights, and loser airports.