Thanksgiving Flight Delays: The Most and Least Reliable Airlines and Airports

Thanksgiving travel is one of the busiest and most stressful times of the year for air passengers. With millions of travelers heading home for the holidays, even small delays can snowball into hours of waiting at the gate.

To determine which airlines and airports are most (and least) reliable during peak periods, we analyzed data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics on Thanksgiving flight delays from 2016 to the present. Check out which carriers and hubs are best at keeping travelers on schedule during one of the nation's busiest travel weekends.

Key Takeaways

• Historically, Southwest and JetBlue have the most delayed departure flights during the Thanksgiving season, at 24.2% each.
• Hawaiian Airlines has the fewest delayed flights during Thanksgiving (8.6%).
• Orlando Sanford International has the most delayed flights during Thanksgiving (29.3%), followed by Newark Liberty International (23.6%).
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International has the fewest delayed flights during Thanksgiving (11.9%).

Airline Delays: Who Keeps You Waiting

• Southwest Airlines and JetBlue had the most delayed departure flights during the 2016–2024 Thanksgiving seasons, at 24.2% each. Hawaiian Airlines had the fewest (8.6%).
• Southwest and JetBlue had the most delayed flights during Thanksgiving last year (25.9%), while Hawaiian had the fewest (10.4%).

Airport Delays: Where Travel Gets Grounded

• Orlando Sanford International had the most delayed departure flights during Thanksgiving (29.3%) from 2016 to 2024, followed by Newark Liberty International (23.6%). Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International had the fewest (11.9%).

Top 5 Airports With the Most Thanksgiving Delays in 2024

1. Orlando Sanford International (33.4%)
2. Newark Liberty International (31.9%)
3. San Francisco International (23.1%)
4. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport (21.6%)
5. San Diego International (20.2%)

Final Boarding Call: What These Numbers Mean

Thanksgiving travel may always come with some turbulence, but knowing which airlines and airports are most reliable can make all the difference. No matter where you're headed this Thanksgiving, preparation is key. Building in extra time and choosing carriers with a strong punctuality record can help you spend less time waiting at the gate and more time around the table.

Methodology

We used the Bureau of Transportation Statistics' data on holiday flight delays for Thanksgiving from 2016 to 2024. The analysis focused on major U.S. airlines and airports to determine which were most and least affected by delays during the Thanksgiving travel period.

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