The Fool Index: airports, July 2026

In July 2026, Washington National (DCA) and San Francisco (SFO) were the most delay-prone of the 30 largest US airports, followed by New York (JFK). Salt Lake City (SLC) was the most on time, with 81.2% of arrivals on time.

Data: U.S. DOT Air Travel Consumer Report, released September 2026. The 30 largest US airports. Updated monthly.

1. 1DCA Washington National86/100

   Short runway, crowded sky, and an evening collapse: only 41.8% of 6 p.m. arrivals made it on time.

   58.1%arrivals on time58.8%departures on time41.8%6 p.m. arrivals on time
2. 2SFO San Francisco86/100

   The worst arrival record of any big airport: barely half of flights (51.9%) landed on time. Fog season is undefeated.

   51.9%arrivals on time63.8%departures on time68.8%6 p.m. arrivals on time
3. 3JFK New York84/100

   Late coming and going, and the epicenter of July 18, when a pile of flights sat on the tarmac for 3 hours or more.

   58.6%arrivals on time59.4%departures on time49.7%6 p.m. arrivals on time
   JFK survival guide
4. 4LGA New York LaGuardia79/100

   JFK's smaller, equally late sibling. Same July 18 tarmac pileup, fewer lounges.

   58.6%arrivals on time61.7%departures on time48.4%6 p.m. arrivals on time
5. 5FLL Fort Lauderdale75/100
   62.6%arrivals on time60.5%departures on time53.0%6 p.m. arrivals on time
6. 6BNA Nashville73/100
   65.7%arrivals on time59.0%departures on time46.4%6 p.m. arrivals on time
7. 7BWI Baltimore73/100
   67.4%arrivals on time57.7%departures on time48.0%6 p.m. arrivals on time
8. 8MDW Chicago Midway72/100
   68.4%arrivals on time57.4%departures on time41.7%6 p.m. arrivals on time
9. 9PHL Philadelphia71/100
   63.6%arrivals on time61.3%departures on time52.1%6 p.m. arrivals on time
10. 10MCO Orlando65/100
    64.5%arrivals on time63.6%departures on time53.7%6 p.m. arrivals on time
11. 11BOS Boston64/100
    62.4%arrivals on time65.6%departures on time46.8%6 p.m. arrivals on time
12. 12SAN San Diego61/100
    64.3%arrivals on time65.3%departures on time51.9%6 p.m. arrivals on time
13. 13CLT Charlotte61/100
    71.0%arrivals on time60.3%departures on time58.3%6 p.m. arrivals on time
14. 14EWR Newark60/100
    62.7%arrivals on time67.1%departures on time54.7%6 p.m. arrivals on time
    EWR survival guide
15. 15MIA Miami58/100
    68.7%arrivals on time63.6%departures on time56.9%6 p.m. arrivals on time
16. 16AUS Austin55/100
    67.9%arrivals on time65.6%departures on time57.0%6 p.m. arrivals on time
17. 17ATL Atlanta53/100
    69.5%arrivals on time64.9%departures on time56.1%6 p.m. arrivals on time
    ATL survival guide
18. 18TPA Tampa51/100
    65.7%arrivals on time68.8%departures on time51.0%6 p.m. arrivals on time
19. 19DFW Dallas/Fort Worth48/100
    73.9%arrivals on time63.9%departures on time59.6%6 p.m. arrivals on time
20. 20LAS Las Vegas45/100
    73.1%arrivals on time66.0%departures on time59.1%6 p.m. arrivals on time
21. 21ORD Chicago O'Hare44/100
    70.1%arrivals on time68.8%departures on time56.4%6 p.m. arrivals on time
    ORD survival guide
22. 22DEN Denver38/100
    73.9%arrivals on time68.3%departures on time51.7%6 p.m. arrivals on time
    DEN survival guide
23. 23DTW Detroit36/100
    72.9%arrivals on time70.0%departures on time63.8%6 p.m. arrivals on time
24. 24PHX Phoenix36/100
    73.6%arrivals on time69.7%departures on time60.4%6 p.m. arrivals on time
25. 25IAD Washington Dulles29/100
    73.7%arrivals on time72.8%departures on time61.7%6 p.m. arrivals on time
26. 26IAH Houston Bush28/100
    74.9%arrivals on time72.4%departures on time60.8%6 p.m. arrivals on time
27. 27LAX Los Angeles26/100
    74.6%arrivals on time73.6%departures on time64.8%6 p.m. arrivals on time
28. 28SEA Seattle-Tacoma25/100
    76.0%arrivals on time73.0%departures on time66.6%6 p.m. arrivals on time
    SEA survival guide
29. 29MSP Minneapolis17/100
    76.6%arrivals on time76.0%departures on time64.8%6 p.m. arrivals on time
30. 30SLC Salt Lake City0/100

    The most on-time big airport in America. 81.2% of arrivals on time. Suspiciously competent.

    81.2%arrivals on time80.1%departures on time70.7%6 p.m. arrivals on time

Tip: fly early

At nearly every big airport, morning flights run on time far more often than evening ones. In July 2026, 87% of arrivals scheduled between 7 and 8 a.m. were on time across these airports, versus 55% around 6 to 7 p.m.

How the airport Fool Index works

For each of the 30 largest US airports we take two official measures: the share of arrivals on time and the share of departures on time, both counted by DOT as within 15 minutes of schedule. Each is scaled from 0 (best of the 30) to 100 (worst of the 30), and the Fool Score is the average. Delays at an airport can come from weather, air traffic control, or the airlines that fly there, so think of this as "where flights go to be late," not a grade on the airport's staff.

Source: U.S. DOT Air Travel Consumer Report, September 2026 (July 2026 data), Tables 3 and 4.

Quick answers

What was the worst US airport for delays in July 2026?

Washington National (DCA), by the JetFools Fool Index, which combines the share of arrivals and departures that ran on time at the 30 largest US airports.

Which big US airport had the most late arrivals in July 2026?

San Francisco (SFO): only 51.9% of arrivals were on time.

Which big US airport was most on time in July 2026?

Salt Lake City (SLC): 81.2% of arrivals and 80.1% of departures were on time.

Why are flights later in the evening?

Delays stack up through the day as late planes and crews carry problems into later flights. At most big airports, morning flights are far more likely to run on time.