NY’s LaGuardia Airport is worst for flight cancellations: analysis

New York’s LaGuardia Airport was the worst hub in the country for flight delays and cancellations during travel chaos that kicked off Memorial Day weekend, according to research from a claims management firm.

Air travelers using the freshly renovated airport in Queens saw 7.7% of their flights canceled from May 27 to July 15 — nearly triple the rate of the national average of 2.6% at typical US airports — according to calculations by AirHelp, a company that helps customers pursue claims for delays and cancellations.

“Cancellations can happen for a variety of reasons, but in general we often see a higher concentration of cancellations and flight disruptions at airports that are higher in traffic, which is true for airports in the New York area,” an AirHelp spokesperson told Bloomberg, which first obtained the statistics.

AirHelp crunched the numbers by assessing 37,000 flight cancellations that occurred at 400 US airports from May 27 to July 15. The company said that period was the peak of summer travel disruptions.

The nearby Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey ranked a close second, with a 7.6% flight cancellation rate. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Northern Virginia was third at 5.9%.

Another New York-based hub, John F. Kennedy International Airport, ranked 10th on the list with 3.6% of flights canceled.

Air travelers have dealt with a massive uptick of flight disruptions over the last year. As the COVID-19 pandemic recedes, major US airlines are scrambling to meet surging demand despite pilot and flight crew shortages, skyrocketing fuel costs and weather-related complications.

The problem has grown so severe that federal officials have warned airlines could face penalties for failing to address disruptions. Delta CEO Ed Bastian issued a public apology for “unacceptable” delays and cancellations in early July.

Other airports in the top 10 included Pittsburgh International Airport, with a 4.1% cancellation rate; Boston Logan International Airport at 4%; Charlotte Douglas International Airport at 3.8%; Philadelphia International Airport at 3.8%; Cleveland Hopkins International Airport at 3.7% and Miami International Airport at 3.7%.