Where Data Tells the Story
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Note: The 25 busiest airports are measured by number of passenger enplanements (boardings) (Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2025)
Methodology: The reliability rating was determined from five key data points:
Each airport was ranked 1-25 based on each metric, and the ranks were added up to a score. The lowest scores (higher ranks) were rated as the most reliable and the highest scores (lower ranks) were rated as the least reliable.
Among the 25 busiest airports, the West Coast displays more operational reliability than the East Coast.
The most reliable: Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix, Las Vegas
The least reliable: Dallas Fort-Worth, Newark, Philadelphia, Chicago O'Hare, New York LaGuardia
Air traffic alone is not enough to explain the driver in reliability. Atlanta is widely considered as the busiest airport in the world but is rated as having average reliability. Las Vegas and Los Angeles are ranked #5 and #7 in air traffic but are both rated as having excellent reliability.
The map also suggests airline hubs/focus cities and operational efficiency may drive reliability.
5 Delta hubs are in the Top 10 most reliable airports (SLC, LAX, SEA, DTW, MSP) -- Delta ranked #2 in on-time arrivals in 2024 (behind Hawaiian).
4 Southwest focus cities are in the Top 10 most reliable airports (LAX, PHX, LAS, SAN) -- Southwest ranked #4 in on-time arrivals in 2024.
Other potential influences include weather management and airport infrastructure -- runway capacity, terminal modernization, gate management, and baggage handling.