Be prepared to wait. DFW Airport predicted to be busy ahead of holiday travel season

If you are flying in or out of one of these airports, you may want to plan accordingly.

Palm Paradise Realty Group gathered data from the Federal Aviation Administration’s OPSNET portal on average delay times, total delay instances, and delay percentages to create a list of potentially busy U.S. airports during the holiday season.

It found that San Francisco International Airport has the most delays, while Chicago Midway delayed flights for the longest amount of time. Dallas/Fort Worth Airport ranked No. 6 for the total number of delays, with 718 a year.

DFW Airport is the No. 3 busiest airport in the world in terms of passengers, the airport said. The airport spans 27 square miles and has five terminals and 171 gates. Around 79.9 million passengers travel through annually, making it the third busiest airport by operations in the world.

“Holiday travel doesn’t have to mean holiday hassle - the key is all in your timing and preparation,” says the concierge reality group’s spokesperson. “First, aim for early morning flights; they’re less prone to delays, and airport crowds are often lighter. Airports get busier closer to Christmas, so fly a few days earlier to dodge the biggest rush if you can.”

So whether you are flying out of DFW or into another busy airport, here are the airports with the worst delays and tips to navigate the airport in the chaos.

U.S. airports with the most delays

Palm Paradise created lists of airports with the most delays and the worst delay times. The top 10 airports with the most delays go as follows:

1. San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco: 1568 delays

2. Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas: 1511 delays

3. Miami International Airport, Miami: 1073 delays

4. Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Chicago: 856 delays

5. John F. Kennedy International Airport, Queens, NY: 821 delays

6. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport: 718 delays

7. La Guardia Airport, East Elmhurst, NY: 667 delays

8. Palm Beach International Airport, Palm Beach, FL: 631 delays

9. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix: 545 delays

10. Seattle/Tacoma International Airport, SeaTac, WA: 509 delays

U.S. airports with the worst average delay time

If you are flying out of DFW, check to see if you are flying back home or with a layover out of these airports with the worst average delay time,

1. Chicago Midway Airport, Chicago: 127 minutes

2. Naples Municipal Airport, Naples, FL: 110 minutes

3. Palm Beach International Airport, Palm Beach, FL: 92 minutes

4. Eagle County Regional Airport, Eagle County, CO: 85 minutes

5. Boston Logan International Airport, Boston: 78 minutes

6. Westchester County Airport, West Harrison, NY: 71 minutes

7. Hector International Airport, Fargo, ND: 60 minutes

8. Southwest Florida International Airport, Fort Myers, FL: 58 minutes

9. San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco: 55 minutes

10. Santa Barbara Airport, Santa Barbara, CA: 50 minutes

Tips for traveling at Dallas/Fort Wort Airport

To ease the burden of holidays, “travelers are reminded to arrive at DFW at least two hours ahead of their flight and are encouraged to download the mobile app on iOS and Android devices, which was recently updated with travel alerts and construction updates, as well as push notifications and customization for travelers who opt-in.” DFW said in a press release.

If you are parking at the airport, DFW recommends that travelers book parking ahead of time for the best rates and to ensure a spot.

Travelers can also access line wait times, parking availability, and a detailed map of the terminals on the app. DFW also has a live web page with updates on construction.

This story was originally published November 12, 2024 at 5:00 AM.

Ella Gonzales

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Ella Gonzales is a service journalism reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Ella mainly writes about local restaurants and where to find good deals around town.