As the spring travel season gets under way and US airports are already grappling with broken security lines, new data from My Baggage shows which major sites can derail travelers’ plans even before they board the plane.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown has crippled Transportation Security Administration workers across the country, leading to wait times that in some cases have been as long as four hours.
While the Senate approved the DHS funding bill in a night session and President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at paying TSA workers, uncertainty still awaits House approval and the airport disruption continues.
Why It Matters
For the millions of Americans who travel this time of year, airport delays are no longer just an inconvenience. They can mean missed connections, lost vacation days, added hotel costs, and hours stuck in traffic or on the street.
The situation from the shipping company shows that the delay has already penetrated many of the busy areas of the country, even before accounting for the additional problems of the workers.
What You Should Know
My Baggage ranked the worst US airports for travel this year based on delays and cancellations, and the results show widespread frustration in some of the country’s busiest destinations.
In the report, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is the single worst airport for travel disruption during the year, receiving a Delay score of 99.67.
Almost one in four annual flights from Newark (23.49 percent) are delayed, with delays of more than 84 minutes. Passengers also face long waits on the street, about 25 minutes per flight.
The data was based on data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics on several key metrics, including the percentage of flights delayed, total length of delay, boarding rates, and total truck wait times.
Below is the full list of My Baggage reports:
- Newark Liberty International (EWR) – Newark, NJ
- 23.49 percent of flights are delayed
- Average delay: 84.44 minutes
- Delay results: 99.67
- Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) – Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
- The maximum total delay in the study was 93.81 minutes
- Delay results: 99.22
- John F. Kennedy International (JFK) – New York, NY
- 22.23 percent of flights are delayed
- The longest tarmac lap is in the top 10 at 26.53 minutes
- Delay results: 92.77
- Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International (FLL) – Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Orlando International (MCO) – Orlando, FL
- Miami International (MIA) – Miami, FL
- George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) – Houston, TX
- More than 21 percent of annual flights are delayed
- Average delay: about 83 minutes
- Delay results: 86.75
- Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) – Washington, DC
- Palm Beach International (PBI) – West Palm Beach, FL
- The highest rate of lateness to the top 10 is 26.33 percent
- Delay results: 80.25
- Chicago O’Hare International (ORD) – Chicago, IL
- 20 percent of flights are delayed
- Average waiting time on the tarmac: more than 23 minutes
- Delay results: 79.37
The rankings show that Florida reigns supreme for the worst delays, with Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Miami all consistently in the top 10. This is bad news for families heading south for spring break.
Travelers to New York also faced a double whammy, with both Newark and JFK ranking among the top three worst airports in the country for year-round travel delays.
Experts say the ongoing TSA staffing crisis has added to the disruption.
“This year, US air travelers are facing a perfect storm. Airport congestion was already a serious issue before the current TSA staffing crisis, and our data shows that even under normal conditions, passengers flying from Newark or Dallas can expect to lose more than an hour on average in delays,” Paul Stewart, CEO of My Baggage, said in the report.
What People Are Saying
Paul Stewart, CEO of My Baggage, said in a statement: “The foreclosure added a new layer of unpredictability on top of that. Airport travelers this season need to plan for the unexpected, build in extra time, and consider contingencies. The facts are clear: for millions of Americans this year, the confusion begins long before it takes off. “
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullins on X: “I want to say thank you [POTUS] that his leadership in finding a way to pay our TSA officers to end this chaos at our airports. These hours long lines and thousands of Americans missing flights are caused by the Democrats who don’t care. [DHS] shut up. Most former DHS employees remain unpaid including [FEMA], [USCG]and [CISA]. Democrats must stop playing political games with our national security, stop beating our workers, and reopen DHS. “
Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Republican, in a statement Thursday: “TSA agents show up every day to keep American travelers safe. They don’t deserve to have their wages withheld. President Trump made sure that didn’t happen. The House passed a bill to support full funding for DHS. Every Republican voted yes. Over 95 percent of Democrats voted no, choose to sacrifice TSA paychecks for politics. The Left fights harder to protect American Trump, Thanks always to protect. to put American workers first.”
What Happens Next
In an overnight session, the Senate approved a bill to fund much of DHS, including the TSA, and Trump signed an executive order ordering the agency to begin paying TSA workers during the shutdown. However, the bill still needs House approval, and it remains unclear how quickly the airport’s staffing and operations will be stabilized.
For now, passengers should still plan to arrive early, check flight status carefully, and prepare for delays, especially if they’re flying into an airport at the top of this list.
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