NYC airports rank among the best — and worst — for stress-free travel

Summer 2024 is here and eager New Yorkers are planning the ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

But is there one airport that surpasses the others for an easier travel experience?

It appears NYC has a tale of two airports, according to MarketWatch Guides.

The capital market company recently conducted a study analyzing flight traffic, delays, cancellations, security wait times and average fares at major hubs across the country. The results? A mixed bag for New Yorkers.

LaGuardia Airport emerged as a shining star, clinching the No. 6 spot for hassle-free travel. With an average security wait time of just 12 minutes and about 82% of flights departing on time, LGA is a beacon of efficiency.

A recent study from AirHelp concluded the same, which shows LaGuardia ranked as one of the best airports in the United States after proving to have the lowest number of flight disruptions in May, with only two other airports ahead.

According to MarketWatch though, John F. Kennedy International Airport tells a different story. With nearly 23% of flights experiencing delays, JFK languishes at the bottom of the list, ranking dead last among major airports.

But the AirHelp study came to the conclusion that while JFK had more delays in comparison to LaGuardia, it was still a great option compared to the rest of the country.

Salt Lake City International Airport (18.6%) and Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (20.8%) were the only two other major airports that had experienced fewer flight disruptions, per AirHelp.

Meanwhile, travelers crossing the Hudson to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) are in for a rough ride, according to MarketWatch’s findings.

EWR made the dubious list of the top five least dependable US airports. With a staggering 2.8% of flights facing cancellations daily and average fares soaring above $425, passengers often find themselves clambering for other options.

And this comes as no surprise as Newark has shown a pattern of inefficiency year after year.

In 2019, it was ranked as one of the worst airports when it comes to delayed flights and connections. In 2023, a study showed that only 64% of flights from there actually departed on time.

Overall the MarketWatch study revealed that every region had its high-flyers and turbulence zones.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport led with the shortest TSA wait time of just nine minutes but also ranked second for the percentage of canceled flights. Meanwhile, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International and Ronald Reagan Washington National impressed with their relatively short average wait times.

On the opposite end, New York’s JFK and Newark, alongside Chicago Midway International, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, ranked among the bottom five, indicating more challenging experiences for travelers due to delays and cancellations.

The West Coast emerges as a traveler’s haven, with four out of the five airports boasting the lowest percentages of canceled flights. Seattle-Tacoma International and Phoenix Sky Harbor International top the reliability charts, each with a cancellation rate of just 0.7%.

In contrast, the New York and New Jersey tristate area is fraught with cancellations. Newark Liberty, LaGuardia, and John F. Kennedy International rank among the top for cancelled flights. Travelers seeking reliable connections might do well to avoid these northeastern airports.

Instead, look at the efficiency of airports like Salt Lake City, Los Angeles or Atlanta.

As you prep for your summer adventure, remember: not all airports are created equal.