Illinois airport ranks worst for flight delays in US, according to study

CHICAGO - A recent study says Decatur Airport had the longest average flight delays of any airport in the U.S. in 2024, with two other Illinois airports also landing among the country’s most delayed.

What we know:

Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, online tour operator Exoticca found Decatur Airport topped the list with an average of 32.89 minutes of delay per flight in 2024.

Belleville’s MidAmerica St. Louis Airport ranked tenth at 27.77 minutes, while Rockford’s airport came in at number 19 with an average delay of 25.92 minutes.

Decatur also saw 2.31% of its flights canceled in 2024, while Belleville had a slightly higher rate at 2.55%.

Big picture view:

Rounding out the Top 5 on the list following Decatur were Plattsburgh, New York; Christiansted, Virgin Islands; Mason City, Iowa; and Concord, North Carolina.

What they're saying:

Aspen, Colorado, which ranked No. 8 on the list, had an average delay time of 28.69 minutes with 6.54% of its flights canceled.

A spokesperson for Exoticca released the following statement:

"Delays will always happen, but it's worth remembering that the vast majority are caused by factors that airports can address.

"Modern airports are designed to handle various challenges, but smaller regional facilities often lack the resources of major hubs. Travelers who are risk aware and plan ahead can improve their chances of avoiding significant disruptions.

"Aspen's position as both highly delayed and having the most cancellations is not surprising given its mountain location and challenging weather. Anyone who can recognize these high-risk situations will be a better prepared traveler."

Dig deeper:

The study analyzed data from more than 7.5 million U.S. flights and where they were departing from. It then measured total minutes of delay and cancelation rates, and their causes, before ranking airports by their average delay per flight and most canceled flights.