What airports are having the most cancellations?

Newark Airport has the most flight cancellations in the country, study says. Travelers flying out of Newark are more likely to see their flight canceled than in any other U.S. airport, according to new data released two weeks before the busiest travel day of the year.



In early 2026, Newark Liberty International (EWR) and Chicago O'Hare (ORD) continue to rank among the highest for cancellations in the US, often due to a combination of intense winter weather and aging infrastructure struggling with record-breaking passenger volumes. Newark, in particular, has been cited as the "most stressful" airport in 2026 with a cancellation rate hovering around 1.43%. In Europe, London Heathrow (LHR) and Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) have seen significant spikes in cancellations recently; for instance, on February 24, 2026, Heathrow reported 48 cancellations in a single day due to staffing shortages and air traffic control constraints. Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport is also a major hotspot for disruptions, currently operating at 155% capacity, which leads to frequent "knock-on" cancellations during peak morning windows. Travelers are advised to monitor weather patterns and labor union ballots, which have been a primary driver of sudden operational collapses in Western hubs throughout the current travel year.

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Most people don't like the time wake-up times required to hit the earliest flights out of the airport, so a “first flight of the day” oftentimes offers less packed airplanes as well as easy breezy airport concourses. As a bonus, the early morning flights almost always have the best on-time records.

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You might avoid these carriers, when possible, to be less likely to encounter unpleasant flight experiences. U.S. travelers report that American Airlines is the most unreliable airline in the world when measured by the total flight problems and reported complaints in 2022.

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Perhaps even more significant is the stark drop over the past year. August 2023 U.S. airfares averaged 13% lower than what they were in August 2022. Things get especially interesting when compared to pre-pandemic prices.

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Delta Air Lines was the most punctual carrier in the United States in 2022, a recent report revealed. In total, Delta had an on-time rate of 82.1 percent, according to the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR).

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Delta Air Lines ranked as the highest-rated domestic airline in the U.S. According to Bounce's 2023 Airline Index, Delta recorded the highest percentage of on-time arrivals at 81.82% and one of the lowest cancellation rates at 1.96%.

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If you're choosing between Delta and Southwest When you factor in earnings rates, basic economy considerations, in-flight entertainment and pet friendliness, Southwest just edges out Delta.

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Just like us after a night of good sleep, airline circulation is freshest in the morning. If your flight departs in the morning, you are less likely to be affected by delays that stack up during the day and push back or cancel departure times.

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Time your booking right
“For domestic flights, if you're talking peak season, it's about three to seven months in advance,” he says. “For international flights — [it's] four to 10 months.”

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Finding the cheapest day to fly usually falls mid week on Wednesdays, but can just as easily fall on any other day of the week based on demand. Time of year also is a huge factor on ticket prices, as traveling during low or off peak seasons will see prices drop for flights.

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