It will be a tale of two airports in NYC this holiday season.
A new report has found that LaGuardia and JFK are on polar opposite wavelengths in terms of reliability and pricing in the coming weeks. Simply put, one made the naughty list, and the other got top marks.
The new data from MarketWatch, which focuses on fares, cancellations, and delays from November and December of 2023, found that LGA — recently crowned best in the nation — is also one of the best major airports for holiday travel.
The favorable ranking is thanks to an 86% on-time departure statistic and decent airfare costs at an average of $346. Last holiday season, LaGuardia only had 0.22% of flights canceled due to weather.
However, heading south on the Van Wyck tells another story. In the research, JFK is called the third worst major airport during the December holiday season. Flights are, on average, much more expensive than they are its Queens counterpart at $441, the research shows.
Also, nearly 17% of flights out of JFK saw delays, and the airport has 0.12% of its flights canceled over the weather for 2023 entirely.
The report, which used Bureau of Transportation Statistics survey data, mentioned that 96% of people are uneasy about their upcoming holiday travel. Nearly seven in 10, or 69%, said delays are their biggest concern.
Right behind that, at 64%, was weather affecting travel, followed by crowded airports and cancellations, which had tied for 55%.
The least common worry among travelers is passenger disturbances on board, at only 19%.
Here is a look at what airports and airlines may be in for a rough ride during the holidays based on how they did last year.
Airlines with the most cancellations and delays
| Rank | Airline | Flight delay percentage in November & December of 2023 | Flight cancellation percentage in November & December of 2023 | Total number of flights in November & December of 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spirit Airlines | 26.64% | 0.40% | 45,747 |
| 2 | JetBlue Airways | 26.20% | 0.27% | 42,679 |
| 3 | Frontier 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 | Envoy Air | 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 Air Lines | 9.81% | 0.02% | 161,375 |
| 15 | Republic Airline | 5.98% | 0.30% | 43,643 |
Best-ranked airports for holiday travel
| Rank | Airport | Flight delay percentage in November & December of 2023 | Flight cancellation percentage in November & December of 2023 | Flight cost average in November & December of 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 | 9.74% | 0.10% | $439 |
Worst-ranked airports for holiday travel
| Rank | Airport | Flight delay percentage in November & December of 2023 | Flight cancellation percentage in November & December of 2023 | Flight cost average in November & December of 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 |
