This Texas airport leads US in flight delays for first half of 2025

A passenger awaits his flight at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) on Jan. 11, 2023. The airport had the largest share of flight delays among U.S. airports in the first six months of 2025.
John Moore/Getty Images

Airport complaints have risen consistently since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the U.S. PIRG Education Fund — including lost luggage, refund disputes and, of course, flight delays.

Believe it or not, airlines in general have improved from last year, when U.S. airlines received a record 66,675 customer complaints. Nonetheless, they remain behind on industry benchmarks regarding on-time performance rates.

So far, this year’s Air Travel Consumer Reports from the U.S. Department of Transportation show that only between 72% and 78% of flights by most U.S. carriers have departed on time. This range is considered mid-tier, while only Hawaiian Airlines made the top tier with an on-time rate of 82.5%. Another U.S. airline appeared in the lowest tier.

Which airlines and airports rank among the worst in the country? The performance of one Texas airport won’t be all that surprising for those who’ve flown recently.

Here’s what an analysis by digital travel publication The Travel found.

DFW had largest share of flight delays among US airports in first half of 2025

Surprise! Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) once again had more flight delays than any other airport in the nation. Many factors contribute to DFW’s poor on-time performance, including severe weather, air traffic control (ATC) issues and its position as a major international hub. At the beginning of the year, the Texas airport was identified as one of the country’s busiest, second only to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL). In world rankings, DFW was still the No. 5 busiest.

Earlier this month, DFW was one of four Texas airports that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered to reduce air traffic during the government shutdown. The impacts of the staff shortages are still being felt via ground delays at DFW, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and others in Texas.

Worst US airports for flight delays, January-June 2025

A passenger walks by bulletin boards at San Francisco International Airport on Nov. 10, 2025 in San Francisco, California. The U.S. government shutdown threw the nation's aviation system into disarray, leaving tens of thousands of staff unpaid and triggering widespread flight delays that raised serious safety concerns.
Zhu Ziyu/VCG via Getty Images

• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW): 30.72% of all flights delayed
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA): 29.26%
• Denver International Airport (DEN): 26.66%

While DFW also topped the list for flight delays in 2024, it’s experiencing the nationwide trend of slight improvement this year. 2024 data shows 31.85% of flights were delayed.

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Worst US airlines for flight delays, January--July 2025

• Frontier Airlines: 31.2% of all flights delayed
• American Airlines Network: 27.6%
• JetBlue Airways: 27.4%

Despite having the worst on-time performance in the first half of 2025, Frontier Airlines' delays are somewhat justified. As an Ultra-Low-Cost Carrier (ULCC), also known as a budget airline, Frontier is at higher risk for what The Travel calls “domino-effect delays.”

“It operates aircraft at high daily utilization, flying many short, consecutive routes with brief turnarounds (ground time),” The Travel explains. “As a result, any minor delay on a single flight — regardless of whether it’s due to air traffic, weather, or maintenance — can ripple into a series of delays on the next flight.”

American Airlines Network and JetBlue Airways don’t have the same excuse.

The Travel attributes American Airlines Network’s delays to its sheer size, while JetBlue Airways operates in congested airspaces like John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).

Tips for avoiding airport delays

While many flight delays are outside of our control, The Travel offers some general advice for reducing risk. The two factors to consider? Time and location.

Airports are usually busiest during early mornings, late afternoons or early evenings, and on Fridays and Sundays. While avoiding flying during these periods may reduce risk of delays, there’s a catch: Early morning flights are commonly the most reliable, as increased traffic and unstable weather patterns typically prompt a buildup of delays throughout the day.

Though it’s not always possible or justifiable, using a different airport is a near-certain way of avoiding flight delays. Smaller airports, while operating fewer gates and offering limited destinations, typically experience fewer delays due to less air traffic and are more flexible.