The Most Chaotic Airports in the U.S.
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The Most Chaotic Airports in the U.S.
We all have that one airport that we avoid flying through at all cost—whether it’s too many delayed flights, crazy lines, not enough seats, or just general disorganization, some airports are simply more chaotic than others. While airport frustration is nothing new, a new study now backs up those gut feelings with hard data.
Gambling site Casino of the Kings crunched the numbers—analyzing flight delays, cancellations, mishandled baggage, and traveler satisfaction—to uncover the most chaotic airports in the U.S. The results offer a clear picture of which airports are most likely to disrupt your travel plans—and might be worth avoiding if you have the option.
Related: The Most Expensive Airports in the U.S. To Fly From
Two Florida hubs lead the list, with Tampa International Airport earning the dubious honor of most chaotic overall, and Orlando International Airport close behind in third place. Both airports struggle with high rates of delayed and canceled flights, mishandled baggage, and low traveler satisfaction.
Coming in second is Newark Liberty International Airport—an airport often criticized by travelers, so its spot on the list will come as no surprise to frequent flyers.
| Airport | Mishandled bags per 100K passengers | Passenger satisfaction score | Daily Percentage of Delayed Flights | Daily Percentage of Cancelled Flights | Chaos Score |
| Tampa International Airport | 1.12 | 8 | 53.47% | 8.24% | 99.83 |
| Newark Liberty International Airport | 2.32 | 7.63 | 40.67% | 2.87% | 90.16 |
| Orlando International Airport | 1.15 | 7 | 46.20% | 4.65% | 89.65 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport | 0.53 | 7.78 | 34.46% | 9.84% | 87.5 |
| John F. Kennedy International Airport | 2.59 | 7.61 | 34.99% | 1.69% | 85.82 |
| Fort Lauderdale Hollywood Int’l Airport | 1.09 | 7.33 | 44.75% | 2.62% | 83.52 |
| O’Hare International Airport | 0.64 | 7.74 | 58.60% | 3.03% | 75.09 |
| Harry Reid International Airport | 1.52 | 7.58 | 35.78% | 1.79% | 72.69 |
| BostonLogan International Airport | 1.72 | 8 | 26.76% | 2.31% | 68.24 |
| Miami International Airport | 1.64 | 7.65 | 31.20% | 1.43% | 67.81 |