Good Question: Which airport is worst for delays, cancellations?

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC)— Here’s something to think about heading into the holiday travel season. What are the chances my trip gets ruined?

Karen asked News10NBC’s Brennan Somers: "Hearing all kinds of horror stories about flight delays and cancellations, leaving customers stranded. Can you compare on-time depart rates and cancellations? I sure would like to travel. Booked a trip and the flights have been changed four times since I booked. No confidence here!!"

Let’s take a look at the trends for Rochester.

Somers pulled up and went through all the federal reports from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Let’s throw out 2020 and look at 2021, a bounce-back year compared to the last two normal years in 2018/19.

The latest numbers through August:

  • Far fewer flights compared to pre-pandemic travel.
  • Some 9,000 in and out of Rochester.
  • More than 80% have been on time.
  • Less than 1.5% canceled altogether

For 2018 and 2019:

  • The combined total for each year for arrivals and departures is more than 18,000 flights.
  • More than 75% on time
  • A little less than 4% canceled.

We’re just slightly better than average in 2021 but again, a much smaller sample size.

Rochester numbers are pretty much on par with national overall trends for cancellations and delays.

So if not here, where might you have the greatest risk of running into an issue?

How about connections at Newark and LaGuardia? They top the list. As for airlines, Allegiant, JetBlue, and Frontier see the most delays on average.

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Watch previous Good Question segments here. If you have a question you’d like answered, email GoodQuestion@whec.com.