This summer, major airports across the United States have been plagued by a surge in flight cancellations due to issues such as weather conditions, technological factors, and aging infrastructure. Some airports have even failed to adequately prepare for the departure of related flights. According to a report by CBS News, flight tracking company FlightAware analyzed airport data and found that flight cancellation rates have increased by about 29%.
From Memorial Day to the second week of July, the flight cancellation rate in the United States soared from 1.4% in 2024 to 1.8% this year, despite a decrease of nearly 256,000 flights (approximately 18%) compared to last year’s peak season.
The three airports with the most severe flight cancellations are all located on the East Coast:
– Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington D.C.
– Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta
– Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia
In the New York metropolitan area, three airports also lead in cancellation rates:
– LaGuardia Airport ranks 5th in flight cancellations
– John F. Kennedy International Airport ranks 9th
– Newark Liberty International Airport follows closely in 10th place
LaGuardia Airport has seen a 65% increase in flight cancellations, amounting to about 5% of flights canceled so far this summer, with an on-time performance decrease of 6.1%. JFK Airport has experienced a 42% increase in cancellations this season, with about 3% of flights canceled. Newark International Airport in New Jersey has seen a 28% increase in cancellations, with approximately 3% of flights canceled this summer.
Fortunately, compared to last summer, some airports have seen a decrease in their cancellation rates. For example, Miami International Airport has witnessed a 40% decrease in cancellations and a 7.3% improvement in on-time performance. Similarly, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida has reduced its flight cancellation rate by 25% and increased its on-time performance by 5.6%.
There are various factors affecting the normal operation of flights. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy urged a multi-billion dollar investment on May 8 to overhaul the overburdened air traffic control system in the United States, addressing issues of aging infrastructure, severe personnel shortages, and outdated technology. In 2017, then-President Trump lamented that “our air traffic control system is painfully stuck in the past…we are still shackled by an aging, broken, outdated, and dysfunctional system.”
(Reference: The New York Post)