About 1 in 5 passengers who flew in the U.S. this year have had to deal with the misfortune of their flight leaving late. Even though airlines publish their schedules, they don't guarantee them.

These days, flight delays are trending higher and higher, according to statistics from the Department of Transportation. In 2018 and 2019, the average share of departure delays for flights in the U.S. was 19% and 19.5%, respectively. In 2022 and 2023 (as of August), departure delays were up to 21.5% and 22%, the highest average in nearly a decade.

Unlike the more generous regulations in the European Union, U.S. carriers are not obligated to compensate passengers for flight delays. However, each company has its own policy, so travelers may be able to get something in exchange for the headache of a delay. It's always advisable to check with the airline to see if they will make accommodations, such as rebooking on a different flight or providing meal vouchers.

Since the federal government doesn't require airlines to provide passengers with delay protections, it's up to the flying public to ensure a delayed flight doesn't ruin plans. When traveling for an immovable event like a wedding or cruise, for example, consider leaving a day in advance to add a buffer for any potential delays. Some travel insurance policies also compensate for long delays and could provide reimbursements for food, hotels, and more.

It's wise to be particularly cautious when flying from certain U.S. airports that report more flight delays across all U.S. airlines than others. TravelPerk explored 25 of the biggest airports in the country and ranked them according to the share of departure flights that experience delays, using data from the Department of Transportation from September 2022 to August 2023.

Continue reading to find out if your nearest airport is prone to pushing back flight times.

Rank

City

Total Flights

% Flight Delayed (>= 15 mins)

Median Minutes Delayed

1

Baltimore/Washington International

92,636

31.20%

16

2

Orlando International

158,419

30.30%

22

3

Denver International

288,782

29.30%

16

4

Harry Reid International (Las Vegas)

187,617

29.10%

18

5

Miami International

100,401

26.60%

21

6

Newark Liberty International

144,038

25.90%

20

7

Dallas/Fort Worth International

279,358

25.10%

23

8

John F. Kennedy International

136,057

24.30%

23

9

George Bush Intercontinental/Houston

139,511

23.70%

18

10

Austin-Bergstrom International

91,862

22.60%

17

11

Logan International (Boston)

141,691

22.50%

21

12

Phoenix Sky Harbor International

171,771

22.40%

15

13

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International

330,268

22.00%

17

14

Nashville International

94,327

21.60%

15

15

Charlotte Douglas International

206,146

20.90%

19

16

Chicago O'Hare International

277,274

20.70%

18

17

LaGuardia (New York)

168,772

20.50%

23

18

San Francisco International

134,948

20.40%

15

19

Los Angeles International

192,726

19.70%

16

20

Philadelphia International

98,234

18.40%

20

21

Seattle/Tacoma International

175,949

18.20%

13

22

Ronald Reagan Washington National

143,183

18.10%

19

23

Detroit Metro Wayne County

124,715

17.80%

18

24

Salt Lake City International

108,272

17.60%

14

25

Minneapolis-St Paul International

120,552

16.70%

16

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25. Minneapolis-St Paul International

• City: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 120,552
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 16.7%
• Median minutes delayed: 16
• Most common destinations: DEN, ORD, ATL

24. Salt Lake City International

• City: Salt Lake City, Utah
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 108,272
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 17.6%
• Median minutes delayed: 14
• Most common destinations: DEN, PHX, LAX

23. Detroit Metro Wayne County

• City: Detroit, Michigan
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 124,715
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 17.8%
• Median minutes delayed: 18
• Most common destinations: ATL, ORD, LGA

22. Ronald Reagan Washington National

• City: Washington, D.C.
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 143,183
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 18.1%
• Median minutes delayed: 19
• Most common destinations: BOS, ATL, LGA

21. Seattle/Tacoma International

• City: Seattle, Washington
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 175,949
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 18.2%
• Median minutes delayed: 13
• Most common destinations: PDX, ANC, LAX

20. Philadelphia International

• City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 98,234
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 18.4%
• Median minutes delayed: 20
• Most common destinations: MCO, ATL, BOS

19. Los Angeles International

• City: Los Angeles, California
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 192,726
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 19.7%
• Median minutes delayed: 16
• Most common destinations: SFO, LAS, JFK

18. San Francisco International

• City: San Francisco, California
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 134,948
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 20.4%
• Median minutes delayed: 15
• Most common destinations: LAX, JFK, SEA

17. LaGuardia

• City: New York, New York
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 168,772
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 20.5%
• Median minutes delayed: 23
• Most common destinations: ORD, BOS, ATL

16. Chicago O'Hare International

• City: Chicago, Illinois
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 277,274
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 20.7%
• Median minutes delayed: 18
• Most common destinations: LGA, LAX, DCA

15. Charlotte Douglas International

• City: Charlotte, North Carolina
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 206,146
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 20.9%
• Median minutes delayed: 19
• Most common destinations: MCO, LGA, ATL

14. Nashville International

• City: Nashville, Tennessee
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 94,327
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 21.6%
• Median minutes delayed: 15
• Most common destinations: LGA, ORD, CLT

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13. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International

• City: Atlanta, Georgia
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 330,268
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 22.0%
• Median minutes delayed: 17
• Most common destinations: MCO, LGA, FLL

12. Phoenix Sky Harbor International

• City: Phoenix, Arizona
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 171,771
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 22.4%
• Median minutes delayed: 15
• Most common destinations: DEN, LAS, SEA

11. Logan International

• City: Boston, Massachusetts
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 141,691
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 22.5%
• Median minutes delayed: 21
• Most common destinations: DCA, LGA, JFK

10. Austin - Bergstrom International

• City: Austin, Texas
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 91,862
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 22.6%
• Median minutes delayed: 17
• Most common destinations: DFW, DEN, LAX

9. George Bush Intercontinental/Houston

• City: Houston, Texas
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 139,511
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 23.7%
• Median minutes delayed: 18
• Most common destinations: DFW, LAX, DEN

8. John F. Kennedy International

• City: New York, New York
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 136,057
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 24.3%
• Median minutes delayed: 23
• Most common destinations: LAX, SFO, BOS

7. Dallas/Fort Worth International

• City: Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 279,358
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 25.1%
• Median minutes delayed: 23
• Most common destinations: LAX, ATL, LGA

6. Newark Liberty International

• City: Newark, New Jersey
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 144,038
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 25.9%
• Median minutes delayed: 20
• Most common destinations: MCO, ATL, LAX

5. Miami International

• City: Miami, Florida
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 100,401
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 26.6%
• Median minutes delayed: 21
• Most common destinations: ATL, JFK, LGA

4. Harry Reid International

• City: Las Vegas, Nevada
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 187,617
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 29.1%
• Median minutes delayed: 18
• Most common destinations: LAX, DEN, SEA

3. Denver International

• City: Denver, Colorado
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 288,782
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 29.3%
• Median minutes delayed: 16
• Most common destinations: LAS, PHX, SLC

2. Orlando International

• City: Orlando, Florida
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 158,419
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 30.3%
• Median minutes delayed: 22
• Most common destinations: ATL, EWR, SJU

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1. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall

• City: Baltimore, Maryland
• Total flights from September 2022 to August 2023: 92,636
• Percent of flights delayed at least 15 minutes: 31.2%
• Median minutes delayed: 16
• Most common destinations: ATL, MCO, BOS

Story editing by Jaimie Etkin. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.