It will be the story of two New York airports this holiday season.
A new report reveals that LaGuardia and JFK will be on polar opposite wavelengths in terms of reliability and price in the coming weeks. Simply put, one was on the naughty list and the other was getting top marks.
New data from MarketWatch, which focuses on fares, cancellations and delays from November and December 2023, found that LGA – recently crowned the best in the country – is also one of the best large airports for holiday travel.
This favorable ranking is due to an on-time departure rate of 86% and decent airfares, averaging $346. Last holiday season, LaGuardia had just 0.22% of flights canceled due to weather.
However, heading south on the Van Wyck is a different story. In research, JFK is considered the third worst major airport during the December holiday period. Flights are, on average, much more expensive than those in Queens, at $441, according to the study.
Additionally, nearly 17% of flights departing from JFK experienced delays, and the airport saw 0.12% of its flights canceled due to weather for 2023 entirely.
The report, which uses data from a Bureau of Transportation Statistics survey, mentions that 96 percent of people are worried about their upcoming vacation trip. Nearly seven in ten, or 69%, said delays are their biggest concern.
Close behind at 64% was weather affecting travel, followed by crowded airports and cancellations, which tied at 55%.
The least common concern among travelers is disruption to passengers on board, at just 19%.
Here’s a look at what challenges airports and airlines might face during the holidays, based on what they did last year.
Airlines with the most cancellations and delays
| Rank | Airline | Flight delay percentage in November and December 2023 | Percentage of flight cancellations in November and December 2023 | Total number of flights in November and December 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spirit Airlines | 26.64% | 0.40% | 45,747 |
| 2 | JetBlue Airways | 26.20% | 0.27% | 42,679 |
| 3 | Border Airlines | 21.45% | 0.32% | 31,602 |
| 4 | Southwest Airlines | 19.12% | 0.42% | 250 274 |
| 5 | Allegiant Air | 19.10% | 0.37% | 18,420 |
| 6 | Alaska Airlines | 16.38% | 0.55% | 38,655 |
| 7 | American airlines | 15.43% | 0.03% | 151,815 |
| 8 | SkyWest Airlines | 12.97% | 0.48% | 113 190 |
| 9 | Hawaiian Airlines | 11.88% | 1.23% | 13,323 |
| 10 | PSA Airlines | 12.64% | 0.32% | 32,291 |
| 11 | Air envoy | 12.52% | 0.21% | 40,149 |
| 12 | United Airlines | 11.87% | 0.12% | 117,741 |
| 13 | Endeavor Air Inc. | 9.98% | 0.47% | 33,267 |
| 14 | Delta Airlines | 9.81% | 0.02% | 161,375 |
| 15 | Republic Airline | 5.98% | 0.30% | 43,643 |
Top Ranked Airports for Holiday Travel
| Rank | Airport | Flight delay percentage in November and December 2023 | Flight cancellation percentage in November and December 2023 | Average cost of flights in November and December 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Reid International (Las Vegas) | 17.31% | 0.25% | $281 |
| 2 | Orlando International | 21.39% | 0.25% | $262 |
| 3 | Tampa International | 16.14% | 0.24% | $323 |
| 4 | LaGuardia Airport (Queens) | 13.92% | 0.42% | $346 |
| 5 | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International | 12.53% | 0.06% | $400 |
| 6 | Minneapolis-St Paul International | 10.52% | 0.26% | $408 |
| 7 | Phoenix Sky Harbor International | 14.77% | 0.14% | $372 |
| 8 | Nashville International | 16.60% | 0.20% | $349 |
| 9 | Chicago O’Hare International | 13.92% | 0.15% | $389 |
| 10 | Salt Lake City International Airport | 9.74% | 0.10% | $439 |
Worst Ranked Airports for Holiday Travel
| Rank | Airport | Flight delay percentage in November and December 2023 | Flight cancellation percentage in November and December 2023 | Average cost of flights in November and December 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Seattle/Tacoma International | 15.64% | 0.34% | $395 |
| 9 | Dallas/Fort Worth International | 15.67% | 0.12% | $422 |
| 8 | Logan International | 16.30% | 0.43% | $396 |
| 7 | Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International | 30.39% | 0.30% | $264 |
| 6 | Charlotte Douglas International | 17.28% | 0.10% | $423 |
| 5 | Chicago Midway International | 19.37% | 1.44% | $303 |
| 4 | Washington-Dulles International | 11.78% | 0.21% | $485 |
| 3 | John F. Kennedy International (Queens) | 16.87% | 0.25% | $441 |
| 2 | Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall | 25.51% | 0.33% | $360 |
| 1 | San Francisco International | 16.88% | 0.18% | $466 |
