STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — If you’re planning to visit family in New York or New Jersey this Thanksgiving, you may want to avoid one airport in particular.
A recent data analysis from Way.com, published on data journalism site Stacker, found that those flying into Newark Liberty International Airport this month are more likely to face delays than those traveling to any other airport in the country.
Researchers analyzed the U.S. Department of Transportation’s November 2024 on-time arrival data to see which airports experienced the most delays this time last year, using those numbers as a barometer for what travelers can expect this year.
“If you’re flying out of a major hub this November, it helps to know which ones tend to slow down when the crowds roll in. Some airports see more weather delays, while others just hit their limits once the runways fill. Either way, a little planning can save a lot of waiting,” wrote Renée Martin of Way.com.
Newark was found to have had the lowest on-time arrival rate of any major U.S. airport in November 2024, with just 71.5% of flights coming in on time.
“Newark tops the list for all the wrong reasons. Only 71.5% of flights arrived on time last November, the lowest rate among large U.S. hubs. Blame it on Northeast congestion, limited runway capacity, and the chain reaction that starts every time bad weather moves through New York airspace. With more than 24 million passengers a year, even short delays here ripple across thousands of itineraries,” Martin wrote.
Another recent study found that Newark had experienced the third-most delays of any major U.S. airport during the first half of 2025.
Earlier this year, the busy airport faced a shortage of air traffic controllers, which led to hundreds of flight cancellations and delays. In May, United Airlines announced the elimination of nearly three dozen round-trip flights from its daily schedule at Newark Airport due to the ongoing issue.
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey said the flight delays at Newark Liberty earlier this year were mostly driven by FAA staffing shortages, outdated FAA air traffic control technology and severe weather, which significantly impacted on-time performance.
San Francisco International Airport was a close second with an on-time arrival rate of 72% last November, followed by San Diego International Airport (78.6%), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (79.6%) and Denver International Airport (82.6%).
John F. Kennedy International Airport ranked 10th on the list with a November 2024 on-time arrival rate of 88%.
“You’ll still face crowds, but operations here hold up well. Arrive early, give yourself space to check bags and clear security, and enjoy a rare New York win; an airport that actually runs on time,” wrote Martin.
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