Traveling this summer has been overrun with a whirlwind of flight delays and cancellations worldwide. Much of the chaos was brought on by overwhelming travel demand in the face of staffing shortages. Airlines have had to make do with the staff that they have, which often leads to delays, cancellations, and lost luggage. As the summer comes to an end, many travelers have held out hope that things will go back to normal, but it doesn’t seem likely. Recently, a collection of U.S. airlines announced they would cut over 30,000 flights this November.
With no end to chaotic travel conditions in sight, it can be helpful for travelers to know how to lessen their chances of getting caught up in a mess. Luckily, a recent study found that there are specific days of the week that have a smaller chance of flight disruptions.
What Factors Drive Flight Cancellations?
According to the study, an airport’s size is one of the main driving factors of cancellations. Airports with higher traffic will be the ones most likely to be plagued with cancellations, with the worst culprits being LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. However, airport traffic isn’t the only factor. The study found that the time of day can have a significant impact on cancellations as well. Most cancellations occur towards the end of the day, between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.
What Are The Best Days Of The Week To Fly?
The study analyzed 37,000 cancellations from 400 different airports in the United States. Data collection occurred between May 27th and July 15th amid peak travel chaos. Using this information, the best and worst days of the week for avoiding flight disruptions were as follows:
Worst
- Thursday
- 3.6% of total flights canceled
- 28% of total flights delayed
- Friday
- 3.2% of total flights canceled
- 31% of total flights delayed
Decent
- Saturday
- 2.7% of total flights canceled
- 27% of total flights delayed
- Wednesday
- 2.7% of total flights canceled
- 25% of total flights delayed
- Sunday
- 2.5% of total flights canceled
- 27% of total flights delayed
Best
- Monday
- 1.9% of total flights canceled
- 23% of total flights delayed
- Tuesday
- 1.8% of total flights canceled
- 22% of total flights delayed
As the study showed, the day of the week can significantly impact flight disruptions. Travelers are twice as likely to have a flight canceled flying on Thursday as opposed to a Tuesday, according to the data. Tuesday was the clear winner with the least cancellations and the least flight delays, with Monday close behind. According to the study, the best days of the week to fly are Tuesday and Monday, and the worst days of the week to fly are Thursday and Friday. If travelers have the flexibility to choose which days they can fly, they should aim for the start of the week.
Other Factors To Consider
The day of the week is clearly not going to be the main factor driving cancellations and delays, though it does seem to play a significant role. When travelers fly definitely contributes to potential flight disruptions, but who they fly with and where they fly from can also make a big difference. Recently, we determined the top five U.S airlines with the most delays in July. Allegiant Air was the worst airline for delays, with nearly 40% of their flights being delayed. JetBlue ranked second with 35%, and Southwest was third with 32%.
Where travelers fly to or from can also have significant impacts on flight disruptions. Between May 27th and July 15th, the five worst airports for cancellations were:
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA)- 7.7% of total flights canceled
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) – 7.6% of total flights canceled
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) -5.9% of total flights canceled
- Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) – 4.1% of total flights canceled
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) – 4% of total flights canceled
Travelers should make every effort to investigate their chances of running into flight disruptions this summer and fall. If the summer travel season has shown us anything, it is how chaotic flying is right now. Knowing your passenger rights, the best days and times to travel, and the best airlines and airports to travel with can all help make sure your trip goes as planned.
