Special Report — Holiday Travel & Airports

Even though the federal government has “temporarily” solved its budget ills, and air traffic controllers are a happier bunch, airline travel in the U.S. is still sometimes an iffy proposition.

Data analyzed by SquareMouth Travel found July 2024 to July 2025 found one in four flights run late or are canceled. Disruption rates in some states rises a bit higher and can go as high as 27.3%. As we all know, this kind of trouble leads to missed connections that often requires overnight stays somewhere and often many hundreds of dollars in costs.

These are the states with the highest rates of delayed or canceled flights in the country:

1. West Virginia

Percent of delayed flights: 24.9%

Percent of canceled flights: 2.5%

Percent of delayed or canceled flights: 27.3%

2. New Jersey

Percent of delayed flights: 24.0%

Percent of canceled flights: 2.5%

Percent of delayed or canceled flights: 26.4%

3. Virginia

Percent of delayed flights: 22.0%

Percent of canceled flights: 1.9%

Percent of delayed or canceled flights: 23.8%

4. Kansas

Percent of delayed flights: 21.6%

Percent of canceled flights: 2.1%

Percent of delayed or canceled flights: 23.8%

5. Florida

Percent of delayed flights: 21.9%

Percent of canceled flights: 1.8%

Percent of delayed or canceled flights: 23.7%

The rest of the top 10:

• Pennsylvania
• Alabama
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Iowa

These are the states with the least number of disruptions. Many of the least disruptions are found PIA Western Alliance states of Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Arizona, Alaska and California. Here is the list:

1. Hawaii

Percent of delayed flights: 12.0%

Percent of canceled flights: 0.8%

Percent of delayed or canceled flights: 12.7%

2. Utah

Percent of delayed flights: 15.0%

Percent of canceled flights: 0.6%

Percent of delayed or canceled flights: 15.6%

3. Idaho

Percent of delayed flights: 17.0%

Percent of canceled flights: 0.4%

Percent of delayed or canceled flights: 17.5%

4. Oregon

Percent of delayed flights: 17.3%

Percent of canceled flights: 0.8%

Percent of delayed or canceled flights: 18.1%

5. Montana

Percent of delayed flights: 17.7%

Percent of canceled flights: 0.5%

Percent of delayed or canceled flights: 18.2%

6. Arizona

Percent of delayed flights: 17.6%

Percent of canceled flights: 0.6%

Percent of delayed or canceled flights: 18.2%

7. Minnesota

Percent of delayed flights: 17.9%

Percent of canceled flights: 0.9%

Percent of delayed or canceled flights: 18.8%

8. Alaska

Percent of delayed flights: 18.2%

Percent of canceled flights: 1.3%

Percent of delayed or canceled flights: 19.5%

9. North Dakota

Percent of delayed flights: 19.0%

Percent of canceled flights: 0.8%

Percent of delayed or canceled flights: 19.8%

10. California

Percent of delayed flights: 19.1%

Percent of canceled flights: 0.8%

Percent of delayed or canceled flights: 19.8%

The worst and airports with the most delays in the U.S. are:

• Orlando Sanford International, Sanford, Florida
• St. Pete-Clearwater International, Pinellas County, Florida
• Aspen Pitkin County Sardy Field, Aspen, Colorado
• Palm Beach International, West Palm Beach/Palm Beach, Florida
• Newark Liberty International, Newark, New Jersey         
• Ronald Reagan Washington National, Washington District of Columbia        
• Roanoke Blacksburg Regional, Roanoke, Virginia          
• Augusta Regional at Bush Field, Augusta, Georgia        
• Punta Gorda Airport, Punta Gorda, Florida           
• South Bend International, South Bend, Indiana   

Most of these airports are for leisure-focused routes and seasonal issues and disruptions from weather are quite common. The average delay rate across the U.S. is 21.7%.

Smaller airports are the most vulnerable because they have fewer runways and fewer gates. They also have less flexibility when issues arise.

Summer is the worst season for air travel:

• Percentage of delayed flights: 25.6%
• Percentage of canceled flights: 2.2%
• Percentage of flights that are delayed or canceled: 27.8%

Spring is the second worst season for air travel:

• Percentage of delayed flights: 20.4%
• Percentage of canceled flights: 1.0%
• Percentage of flights that are delayed or canceled: 21.4%

Winter is the third worst season for air travel:

• Percentage of delayed flights: 19.3%
• Percentage of canceled flights: 1.9%
• Percentage of flights that are delayed or canceled: 21.1%

The best season for air travel is Fall:

• Percentage of delayed flights: 14.1%
• Percentage of canceled flights: 0.7%
• Percentage of flights that are delayed or canceled: 14.8%

The worst month for travel is July with one in three — 30.2% — disrupted. The Independence Day holiday (July 4th) is the worst time to travel in the summer.

You would think Winter is the worst time to travel by air. Oddly, it is not. However, December is difficult because of the holiday season. Disruptions hit 21.5%.

So how much do flight delays cost those traveling by air? Lots:

• Trip cancellation — $5,511
• Trip interruption — $2,707
• Travel delay — $512
• Missed connection — $458
• Baggage delay — $256
• Airline delay — $227

Trip cancelations hit the hardest. These include those non-refundable things like prepaid tours, hotel bookings and other flights. Trip interruptions are also quite costly.

Then there are missed connections. They average $458 per claim.

These are the most expensive states for travel delays. Nationally, the average claim amount is $512. The PIA Western Alliance states of Oregon and Arizona rank third and fourth respectively:

1. New Jersey

Average delay claim amount: $751

2. Arkansas

Average delay claim amount: $733

3. Oregon

Average delay claim amount: $606

4. Arizona

Average delay claim amount: $582

5. Utah

Average delay claim amount: $569

Source link: SquareMouth Travel Insurance — https://bit.ly/4iKLCJ7