Ranking the Best and Worst Airlines and Airports for Labor Day Weekend Travel
Traveling during the extended Labor Day Weekend can bring about its own share of challenges, particularly when striving for punctuality amidst the rush. The convergence of sizable holiday crowds and ongoing airline staffing concerns can potentially magnify these issues, possibly resulting in unanticipated flight disruptions for unfortunate passengers.
Recent data sourced from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and analyzed by Price4Limo sheds light on the varying probabilities of travel interruptions during the Labor Day Weekend across different airlines. Notably, Hawaiian Airlines emerges as the most reliable carrier during this period, boasting the lowest rates of cancellations and diversions. Impressively, Hawaiian maintains an average departure delay of just 6 percent.
Among the prominent U.S. carriers, Delta Air Lines secures a commendable position with a 9 percent average departure delay, while Alaska Airlines completes the list of top three dependable Labor Day airlines, with an average delay rate of 11 percent.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, JetBlue encounters the highest level of challenges, experiencing an average of 20 percent delayed flights during the Labor Day Weekend. Ultra-low-cost operators Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines also confront significant delays, with rates standing at 18 percent.
Meanwhile, United Airlines (14 percent), Spirit Airlines (15 percent), American Airlines (15 percent), and Southwest Airlines (17 percent) position themselves in the middle range. It’s pertinent to note that Spirit registers the highest average cancellation rate during this holiday period.
Turning to the realm of airports, certain locations stand out for their consistent on-time departure performance over Labor Day Weekend. Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport leads the pack with an average on-time departure rate of 93 percent. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport also deliver commendable results, both maintaining an on-time departure rate of 91 percent. Equally notable is the achievement of 90 percent on-time departures for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Detroit Metro Airport, and Salt Lake City International Airport.
Conversely, San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Martín International Airport faces the most delays, with a 20 percent occurrence rate. Newark Liberty International Airport follows closely at 18 percent. A shared third-worst position is held by Dallas Love Field Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, San Antonio International Airport, and Boston Logan International Airport, each witnessing 17 percent of Labor Day departures experiencing delays.
By selecting the optimal travel day during the impending Labor Day Weekend, travelers can significantly enhance their likelihood of reaching their intended destination promptly.