12. Miami International Airport (MIA)
Miami is a major gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, and with that comes a web of international connections that can easily go haywire. Tropical weather, from heavy rains to hurricane scares, doesn’t help matters, leaving travelers stranded during peak travel seasons.
11. Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Orlando’s problem isn’t snow but sheer demand. As one of the busiest tourist destinations in the US, this airport struggles to keep up with holiday and vacation traffic. Add to that frequent summer thunderstorms, and delays pile up faster than you can say “Mickey Mouse.”
10. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Salt Lake City may not seem like a usual suspect, but winter storms have been especially cruel this year, causing a spike in delays. With heavy snowstorms sweeping through the region, even its solid reputation for efficiency has taken a hit.
9. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
DFW deals with delays for two big reasons: Texas thunderstorms and its role as a key hub for domestic and international flights. In 2025, the combination of severe weather and overbooked schedules made it tough to keep flights on time.
8. Denver International Airport (DEN)
Denver’s high-altitude location makes it particularly vulnerable to weather disruptions, from snowstorms to unpredictable wind conditions. Additionally, its massive size and long taxi times mean a delay in one area can ripple across the entire airport.
7. San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
SFO’s Achilles’ heel is its notorious fog. While the Bay Area’s weather is beautiful most of the year, that thick marine layer can ground flights for hours. Pilots navigating its tightly spaced parallel runways also contribute to bottlenecks.
6. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
As one of the busiest airports in the world, Atlanta operates at full capacity almost all the time. A single disruption—whether it’s bad weather or a technical glitch—can snowball into delays affecting thousands of passengers.
5. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Boston’s compact airport layout and New England’s harsh winter weather make Logan a frequent flyer on “worst for delays” lists. Icy conditions and tight schedules leave little room for flexibility when things go wrong.
4. New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
LaGuardia may have undergone major renovations, but its small size and location in one of the busiest airspaces in the world mean delays are still common. Toss in bad weather and flight congestion, and you’ve got a recipe for long waits.
3. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
O’Hare is infamous for its delays, thanks to its location in the Midwest, where weather patterns are anything but stable. In 2025, a mix of heavy snowstorms and relentless summer thunderstorms made it one of the most delay-prone airports in the country.
2. New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
JFK’s role as a major international hub makes it prone to delays. With its heavy traffic and frequent East Coast weather disruptions, it’s no surprise that it ranks so high. Construction projects in 2025 only made matters worse for weary travelers.
1. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
At the top of the list is Newark Liberty, a perennial leader in delays. Its location in the dense New York metro area means it faces overwhelming air traffic, and 2025 brought plenty of bad weather and congestion to cement its place as the worst.
There you have it—12 airports that made air travel extra challenging in 2025. Whether it’s snow, thunderstorms, or too many planes in the sky, these hubs remind us why patience is a virtue when flying.
