The Most Weather-Delayed Airports During the Holidays [2026 Data Study]

Updated: November 2, 2026, 8:05am CST

Edited by:

Jump to Section

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways
Which U.S. Airports Have the Most Weather Delays During the Holidays?
Which U.S. Airlines Have the Most Weather Delays During the Holidays?
Methodology
Final Thoughts

We may be compensated when you click on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Holiday flight plans already come with packed terminals, tight connections, and limited backup seats. Then the weather gets a vote. In 2025, the TSA screened more than 20 million people during the 8-day Thanksgiving travel period,¹ including 3.13 million travelers on the Sunday after the holiday. Just weeks later, nearly 45 million more people passed through airport security during the year-end holiday rush.

With that many people in the air, a snowstorm, foggy morning, or line of thunderstorms can create delays that ripple far beyond the airport where they begin. To see where weather has caused the most disruption during recent holiday travel seasons, we analyzed Bureau of Transportation Statistics data from November, December, and January over the past 5 years.

We compared the 60 busiest U.S. airports and calculated the share of delays attributed to weather for flights operated by 9 major U.S. airlines. While our analysis cannot predict this year’s weather, it shows which airports and airlines have historically been most vulnerable to weather-related holiday delays.

Key Takeaways

Across the U.S., weather was responsible for an average of 21.9% of delayed flights during the holiday months (November through January) over the past 5 years.
December had a higher average share of weather-related delays than January: 23.56% compared with 22.59%.
San Francisco (SFO) (40.3%), LaGuardia (LGA) (38.9%), and Seattle–Tacoma (SEA) (32.8%) were the 3 airports with the highest share of weather-related flight delays during the holiday months.
Alaska Airlines had the highest share of weather-related holiday delays at 27.8%, followed by United Airlines at 25.4%. Hawaiian Airlines had the lowest share at 7.9%, followed by Southwest Airlines at 17.2%.

Which U.S. Airports Have the Most Weather Delays During the Holidays?

These were the 10 most weather-delayed airports during the holiday months:

San Francisco International Airport (SFO): 40.32%
LaGuardia Airport (LGA): 38.91%
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA): 32.79%
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR): 31.56%
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC): 29.64%
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH): 29.41%
Logan International Airport (BOS): 28.35%
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP): 27.96%
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD): 27.43%
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): 25.80%

San Francisco (SFO) had the highest share of weather-related delays among the airports in the study. More than 4 in 10 of its holiday-month delays were attributed to weather. Low visibility, including the fog SFO is known for, can significantly slow the airport’s operations.

SFO faces broader weather-related risks, as well. A recent report identified SFO among the Bay Area locations that may face temporary coastal flooding in certain conditions, with this winter’s El Niño expected to increase the risk of heavy rain across California.

SFO’s weather vulnerability also sits within a broader operational picture: After recent delays tied to runway construction and changes to landing procedures, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) introduced a staggered parallel landing procedure at the airport to help improve arrival flow. The change does not explain the weather-delay figures in this study, but it offers context for why keeping arrivals moving is such an important focus at SFO.

The Northeast also dominates the ranking. LaGuardia (LGA), Newark (EWR), Boston (BOS), and New York (JFK) all landed in the top 10, showing how quickly a regional weather event can disrupt one of the country’s busiest and most interconnected airspaces.

That can be especially challenging at LaGuardia, where shorter runways can leave aircraft with less takeoff and landing margin when weather conditions affect performance. FAA weather advisories show that storms can trigger delay programs at multiple New York-area airports at once, leaving travelers with fewer rebooking options.

Seattle‘s (SEA) third-place finish is another reminder that holiday weather delays are not just a snow problem. Low cloud cover, rain, and wind can all slow traffic at major hubs. When snow or ice does arrive, delays can mount further. Runways and taxiways must be de-iced, and each aircraft must be treated before it can safely depart.

From San Francisco’s fog-prone runways to the Northeast’s crowded airport network and the snow-and-ice risks at airports such as Anchorage (ANC), Minneapolis (MSP), and Chicago (ORD), the list shows that holiday flyers should pay attention to the weather at both ends of their trip — not just at home.

These were the 10 least weather-delayed airports during the holiday months:

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): 10.17%
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL): 11.45%
Kahului Airport (OGG): 12.44%
Miami International Airport (MIA): 12.47%
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK): 12.57%
Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX): 14.23%
Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL): 14.99%
Ontario International Airport (ONT): 15.30%
President Donald J. Trump International Airport (DJT): 15.43%
San Antonio International Airport (SAT): 15.54%

At the other end of the ranking, the list reads a little like a holiday escape itinerary: Southern California, Hawaii, South Florida, Phoenix, and San Antonio all appear among the airports with the lowest shares of weather-related delays. Los Angeles (LAX) led the way, with weather accounting for just 10.17% of its holiday-month flight delays.

Hawaii’s 2 airports also stood out near the top of the low-delay list. The state is known for mild temperatures and infrequent severe storms, although its winter season still brings rain to many areas. South Florida’s airports may also benefit from the region’s winter dry season, while snow is a rare concern in Phoenix. Still, no airport is immune to disruption. This study measured the share of delays attributed to weather, not the exact reason each flight was delayed.

Which U.S. Airlines Have the Most Weather Delays During the Holidays?

Pie chart showing the major U.S. airlines and their respective percentage of weather-related flight delays during the holidays — Percent of flights with weather delays by airline. Image Credit: Upgraded Points LLC

Alaska Airlines had the highest share of weather-related delays during the holiday months, at 27.75%. United Airlines followed at 25.36%. The results likely reflect, at least in part, where each carrier concentrates its flights. Alaska’s hub network includes Seattle, Anchorage, and San Francisco, 3 airports that also ranked among the 10 most weather-delayed in this analysis. United’s hub network includes San Francisco, Newark, Chicago O’Hare, and Houston Intercontinental, all of which also appear in the top 10.

Hawaiian Airlines had the lowest share of weather-related delays, at 7.94%, while Southwest followed at 17.22%. Hawaiian’s result may reflect its interisland service and Hawaii-focused network, particularly since Honolulu and Kahului ranked among the airports with the lowest shares of weather-related delays.

Overall, the gap between carriers shows that weather risk is not evenly spread across the U.S. aviation system. An airline’s route map, hub locations, and the seasonal conditions at the airports it serves can all shape how often weather enters the picture.

Hot Tip:

Advance planning for holiday travel problems can soften some of the worst problems.

Methodology

To identify the airports most affected by weather during the holiday months, we analyzed the percentage of weather-related flight delays at the 60 busiest U.S. airports using data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Holiday months are defined as the months of November, December, and January, with averages taken over the last 5 years (November 2021 through January 2026). We also replicated this analysis for the 9 largest U.S. airlines to determine the most weather-delayed carriers during the holiday months.

Final Thoughts

Holiday weather will always get the final say, but it doesn’t have to catch travelers flat-footed. These rankings are not a forecast or a reason to rule out airports like SFO, LGA, or SEA altogether. Instead, they show where weather has historically played a larger role in holiday flight delays.

When you have a choice, use the data to build a more resilient itinerary. Consider a nonstop flight or choose a layover at an airport with a lower historical share of weather-related delays. If you do connect through an airport that tends to be more weather-sensitive, giving yourself a longer layover can provide some valuable breathing room. The same goes for arrival airports: If you’re flying in for a cruise, wedding, or can’t-miss family gathering, it may be worth arriving a day earlier when possible.

Before heading to the airport, check your flight status directly in your airline’s app or website. The airline is the best source for flight-specific updates. You can also check the FAA’s National Airspace System Status dashboard for broader delays, ground stops, and weather-related restrictions affecting airports across the country.

Fair Use
You are welcome to use, reference, and share noncommercial excerpts of this study with proper attribution. If you cite or cover our findings, please link back to this page so readers can view the full methodology, charts, and context.