A new study from Saily highlights which airlines and airports are most likely to keep travelers on schedule. By analyzing U.S. Department of Transportation statistics from December 2023 and December 2024, Saily identified clear trends in airline punctuality, airport performance, and seasonal travel patterns.
“Holiday travel puts enormous pressure on airports and airlines, and even small delays can quickly add up. Knowing which hubs typically run smoothly helps travelers plan better — whether that means choosing a different connection or adding extra buffer time,” said Vykintas Maknickas, CEO at Saily, said in a press release.
Airline Reliability: Winners and Losers
Across December 2024, holiday travel proved challenging for many carriers, though several operators stood out for consistency. Hawaiian Airlines, Horizon Air, Mesa, Republic Airline, and United Airlines all achieved on-time performance rates above 80%, offering passengers a better chance of smooth departures.
Conversely, JetBlue recorded the lowest punctuality at just 68.3%, followed by PSA Airlines, Allegiant, Frontier, and American Airlines. Looking at both 2023 and 2024, Republic Airline, Delta, Endeavor Air, Hawaiian Airlines, and United Airlines maintained the most reliable records, while JetBlue, Allegiant, Spirit, Frontier, and PSA consistently ranked lowest.
Airport Performance: Regional Hubs Excel
The analysis revealed stark differences in airport performance during the busy December period. Salt Lake City (SLC) emerged as the top-performing major airport in December 2024, with 82.6% of flights departing on time. Other reliable hubs included Los Angeles (LAX), Denver (DEN), Phoenix (PHX), and Las Vegas (LAS).
At the other end, San Diego (SAN), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Baltimore (BWI), and Miami (MIA) experienced the most delays. These patterns were consistent with December 2023 data, highlighting persistent congestion and weather-related challenges at certain East Coast and Florida airports.
Two-Year Trends for Holiday Travelers
Looking at a two-year average, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Detroit (DTW) emerged as the most dependable airports for holiday travel, while Fort Lauderdale, Baltimore, San Diego, Miami, and Orlando were the least reliable.
Tips for Smoother Holiday Travel
The study suggests travelers can improve their odds of on-time travel by flying through regional hubs, scheduling early morning departures, allowing extra connection time, and choosing airlines with simpler, less congested networks.
“Performance varies by region and carrier, and weather plays a bigger role during December. Flexibility and real-time monitoring remain essential for stress-free holiday travel,” Maknickas added in a press statement.