Worst Airports in America
The Daily Beast sifts through the statistics to find out which airports are the most miserable.
In the coming week, approximately 25 million travelers will fly to join friends and family for Thanksgiving. Turkey Day travel is notorious for headache-inducing delays and cancellations, not to mention overstuffed terminals and endless tarmac traffic.
In light of the impending travel season, and for the third year in a row, The Daily Beast combed through an extensive amount of statistics related to air travel to determine which airports have the most consistently delayed flights and offer the worst travel experience.
To determine the ranks, we considered the 50 largest airports in the U.S. according to total passengers in 2010 based on Airports Council International statistics. Each airport was ranked based on the following data points:
-Percentage of on-time arrivals in 2011 (weighted 25 percent) and percentage of on-time departures (25 percent), according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics
-Average security wait time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (20 percent) according to Flight Explorer
-Average percentage of on-time departures during national holidays (20 percent)—including Presidents' Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and the winter holidays—according to the BTS.
-Comfort and amenities for each airport, using the JD Power and Associates’ 2010 North American Airport Satisfaction Study, an exhaustive consumer rating of passenger satisfaction (10 percent).
Plus, read more on Travel Beast.
Total passengers, 2010: 8,849,711
On-time arrivals, 2011: 83.6%
On-time departures, 2011: 82.4%
Average arrival delay: 8.6 minutes
Average departure delay: 9.4 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 73.7%
Average security wait time: 8 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): n/a
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 0
Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo
Total passengers, 2010: 8,195,359
On-time arrivals, 2011: 77.9%
On-time departures, 2011: 81%
Average arrival delay: 13.2 minutes
Average departure delay: 12.0 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 77.9%
Average security wait time: 5 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): n/a
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 2
Chris Hondros / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 32,377,064
On-time arrivals, 2011: 76 %
On-time departures, 2011: 78.6%
Average arrival delay: 14 minutes
Average departure delay: 13 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 79.7%
Average security wait time: 6 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 705 (ranked out 7 of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 0
Bill Pugliano / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 7,977,588
On-time arrivals, 2011: 75.6%
On-time departures, 2011: 79.4%
Average arrival delay: 15.2 minutes
Average departure delay: 13.4 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 78.1%
Average security wait time: 4 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 713 (ranked 4 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 0
Scott Olson / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 32,839,441
On-time arrivals, 2011: 77.5%
On-time departures, 2011: 80.6%
Average arrival delay: 12.6 minutes
Average departure delay: 11.3 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 75.4%
Average security wait time: 8 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 701 (ranked 8 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 0
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 10,168,035
On-time arrivals, 2011: 78.8%
On-time departures, 2011: 78.8%
Average arrival delay: 12.4 minutes
Average departure delay: 12.6 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 75.1%
Average security wait time: 5 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 742 (ranked 1 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 1
Tammy Ljungblad, MCT / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 52,209,377
On-time arrivals, 2011: 76.7%
On-time departures, 2011: 76.8%
Average arrival delay: 12.9 minutes
Average departure delay: 12.9 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 80.3%
Average security wait time: 10 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 701 (ranked 8 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 1
Barry Gutierrez / AP Photo
Total passengers, 2010: 18,105,802
On-time arrivals, 2011: 75.8%
On-time departures, 2011: 79.7%
Average arrival delay: 13.7 minutes
Average departure delay: 11.4 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 78.1%
Average security wait time: 7 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 672 (ranked 21 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 1
Mark Wilson / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 9,101,870
On-time arrivals, 2011: 77.4%
On-time departures, 2011: 80%
Average arrival delay: 13.2 minutes
Average departure delay: 12.1 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 77.7%
Average security wait time: 6 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): n/a
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 0
Raleigh News & Observer, MCT / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 39,757,359
On-time arrivals, 2011: 80.4%
On-time departures, 2011: 78.3%
Average arrival delay: 10.7 minutes
Average departure delay: 11.9 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 77.3%
Average security wait time: 13 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 682 (ranked 17 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 0
AP Photo
Total passengers, 2010: 38,254,207
On-time arrivals, 2011: 72%
On-time departures, 2011: 77.5%
Average arrival delay: 15.4 minutes
Average departure delay: 13.3 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 84%
Average security wait time: 8 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 697 (ranked 11 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 0
Todd Sumlin, MCT / Landov
Total passengers, 2010: 22,412,627
On-time arrivals, 2011: 76.1%
On-time departures, 2011: 78%
Average arrival delay: 14.3 minutes
Average departure delay: 13.3 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 78.7%
Average security wait time: 8 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 677 (ranked 19 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 0
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 9,857,845
On-time arrivals, 2011: 82.1%
On-time departures, 2011: 79.0%
Average arrival delay: 8.8 minutes
Average departure delay: 10.4 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 71.4%
Average security wait time: 7 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 691 (ranked 13 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 0
AP Photo
Total passengers, 2010: 56,906,610
On-time arrivals, 2011: 74.5%
On-time departures, 2011: 76.2%
Average arrival delay: 13.4 minutes
Average departure delay: 12.5 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 81.9%
Average security wait time: 7 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 692 (ranked 12 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 1
Rick Gershon / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 89,331,622
On-time arrivals, 2011: 75.5%
On-time departures, 2011: 76.6%
Average arrival delay: 14.2 minutes
Average departure delay: 13.6 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 81.6%
Average security wait time: 8 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 666 (ranked 22 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 2
Jessica McGowan / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 21,949,902
On-time arrivals, 2011: 75.7%
On-time departures, 2011: 74.6%
Average arrival delay: 14.5 minutes
Average departure delay: 14.8 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 80%
Average security wait time: 6 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 707 (ranked 6 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 1
Jim Watson, AFP / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 9,848,377
On-time arrivals, 2011: 74.9%
On-time departures, 2011: 79.5%
Average arrival delay: 14.8 minutes
Average departure delay: 12.5 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 78.4%
Average security wait time: 5 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): n/a
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 1
AP Photo
Total passengers, 2010: 23,591,554
On-time arrivals, 2011: 74.6%
On-time departures, 2011: 78.1%
Average arrival delay: 16.7 minutes
Average departure delay: 14.9 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 78.1%
Average security wait time: 6 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 646 (ranked 24 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 0
Paul J. Richards, AFP / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 9,037,456
On-time arrivals, 2011: 77.1%
On-time departures, 2011: 77.1%
Average arrival delay: 12.9 minutes
Average departure delay: 13.1 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 76.9%
Average security wait time: 5 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): n/a
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 0
AP Photo
Total passengers, 2010: 30,775,961
On-time arrivals, 2011: 72.4%
On-time departures, 2011: 76.9%
Average arrival delay: 16.3 minutes
Average departure delay: 14.1 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 79.9%
Average security wait time: 10 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 629 (ranked 28 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 0
William Thomas Cain / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 35,698,025
On-time arrivals, 2011: 71.3%
On-time departures, 2011: 74.1%
Average arrival delay: 16.4 minutes
Average departure delay: 15.3 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 81.6%
Average security wait time: 12 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 617 (ranked 29 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 0
John W. Adkisson / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 27,428,962
On-time arrivals, 2011: 71.6%
On-time departures, 2011: 75.8%
Average arrival delay: 16.1 minutes
Average departure delay: 14.3 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 77.7%
Average security wait time: 5 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 644 (ranked 25 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 0
Michael Dwyer / AP Photo
Total passengers, 2010: 12,331,436
On-time arrivals, 2011: 75.6%
On-time departures, 2011: 75.2%
Average arrival delay: 13.2 minutes
Average departure delay: 13.4 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 74.9%
Average security wait time: 9 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 683 (ranked 16 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 0
Jeff Roberson / AP Photo
Total passengers, 2010: 17,566,281
On-time arrivals, 2011: 74.4%
On-time departures, 2011: 70.2%
Average arrival delay: 14.2 minutes
Average departure delay: 16.3 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 76.4%
Average security wait time: 7 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 684 (ranked 15 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 1
Carlos Ortiz / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 39,253,999
On-time arrivals, 2011: 74.2%
On-time departures, 2011: 74.7%
Average arrival delay: 15.3 minutes
Average departure delay: 15.8 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 72.6%
Average security wait time: 4 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 647 (ranked 23 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 0
Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 23,983,082
On-time arrivals, 2011: 71.1%
On-time departures, 2011: 76.5%
Average arrival delay: 16.1 minutes
Average departure delay: 13.5 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 74.9%
Average security wait time: 6 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 604 (ranked 32 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 0
Don Emmert, AFP / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 9,054,001
On-time arrivals, 2011: 74.6%
On-time departures, 2011: 70.9%
Average arrival delay: 13.5 minutes
Average departure delay: 15.4 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 72.7%
Average security wait time: 4 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): n/a
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 1
Daniel Acker, Bloomberg News / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 46,514,154
On-time arrivals, 2011: 70.7%
On-time departures, 2011: 74.1%
Average arrival delay: 18.6 minutes
Average departure delay: 17.0 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 76.1%
Average security wait time: 6 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 635 (ranked 27 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 4
Chris Hondros / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 33,107,041
On-time arrivals, 2011: 67.5%
On-time departures, 2011: 70.8%
Average arrival delay: 19.3 minutes
Average departure delay: 17.9 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 72.4%
Average security wait time: 7 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 609 (ranked 31 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 0
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Total passengers, 2010: 66,774,738
On-time arrivals, 2011: 67.6%
On-time departures, 2011: 70.3%
Average arrival delay: 18.8 minutes
Average departure delay: 17.1 minutes
On-time holiday departures: 72.1%
Average security wait time: 9 minutes
Amenities score (out of 1000): 639 (ranked 26 out of 32)
Incidents/Accidents in 2011: 4
Scott Olson / Getty Images
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