A number of factors have combined to make air travel harder now than it’s been in years, including staff shortages (from pilots and onboard crews to baggage handlers and other ground personnel); increasingly unstable weather; and disruptive passenger violence, which has exploded since the beginning of the pandemic. (See 50 ways air travel has changed over the last 100 years.)
Nonetheless, in the face of these challenges, some airports manage to maintain a good on-time performance record. And by this measure, the best U.S. airport for summer travel is apt to be Minneapolis/St. Paul International.
To determine what are likely to be the best U.S. airports for summer travel this year, based on on-time arrivals and departures for 2021, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the annual airport rankings published by AirHelp, a claims management company associated with the Association of Passenger Rights Advocates.
Click here to see the best U.S. airports for summer travel
The AirHelp data, covering on-time performance for over 100,000 flights last year, is based on flight information displays, transponders and airport radar terminals, and air traffic control systems, among other sources, and is self-reported. Information on annual domestic arrivals, departures, and primary airline at each airport in 2021 comes from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Bear in mind that this data may be misleading to the extent that problems affecting on-time performance have worsened over the past year, and even the best-run airports have likely been affected. (These are the 10 busiest airports in the world.)
Source: narvikk / iStock via Getty Images
10. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
> Primary airline: American (21.6% of passenger traffic)
> Domestic arrivals, 2021: 19.8 million
> Domestic departures, 2021: 19.8 million
> On time performance, 2021: 81.06%
[in-text-ad]
Source: Laser1987 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
9. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
> Primary airline: American (37.6% of passenger traffic)
> Domestic arrivals, 2021: 9.3 million
> Domestic departures, 2021: 9.3 million
> On time performance, 2021: 82.64%
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
8. Boston Edward L Logan International Airport (BOS)
> Primary airline: JetBlue (29.8% of passenger traffic)
> Domestic arrivals, 2021: 9.9 million
> Domestic departures, 2021: 9.9 million
> On time performance, 2021: 83.02%
Source: Aaron Wells / iStock via Getty Images
7. Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA)
> Primary airline: Alaska (46.6% of passenger traffic)
> Domestic arrivals, 2021: 16.6 million
> Domestic departures, 2021: 16.6 million
> On time performance, 2021: 83.40%
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: TriggerPhoto / iStock via Getty Images
6. Charlotte Airport (CLT)
> Primary airline: American (60.5% of passenger traffic)
> Domestic arrivals, 2021: 19.9 million
> Domestic departures, 2021: 19.9 million
> On time performance, 2021: 83.93%
Source: Aaron Hawkins / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
5. Salt Lake City Airport (SLC)
> Primary airline: Delta (54.4% of passenger traffic)
> Domestic arrivals, 2021: 10.5 million
> Domestic departures, 2021: 10.5 million
> On time performance, 2021: 84.44%
[in-text-ad]
4. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
> Primary airline: Delta (69.3% of passenger traffic)
> Domestic arrivals, 2021: 33.9 million
> Domestic departures, 2021: 33.9 million
> On time performance, 2021: 84.97%
Source: JasonDoiy / iStock via Getty Images
3. San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
> Primary airline: United (38.4% of passenger traffic)
> Domestic arrivals, 2021: 10.1 million
> Domestic departures, 2021: 10.1 million
> On time performance, 2021: 85.14%
2. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
> Primary airline: Delta (49.5% of passenger traffic)
> Domestic arrivals, 2021: 11.0 million
> Domestic departures, 2021: 11.0 million
> On time performance, 2021: 85.96%
[in-text-ad-2]
1. Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
> Primary airline: Delta (51.0% of passenger traffic)
> Domestic arrivals, 2021: 11.8 million
> Domestic departures, 2021: 11.8 million
> On time performance, 2021: 86.24%
Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With A Financial Advisor (Sponsored)
Take the quiz below to get matched with a financial advisor today.
Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.
Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the
advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future
Take the retirement quiz right here.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
