CHICAGO — A new nationwide study has named Illinois’ Decatur Airport the worst airport in the U.S. for flight delays, placing it above dozens of other regional hubs based on 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
The report — compiled by online travel operator Exoticca — examined over 7.5 million flights and ranked U.S. airports based on average delay time per flight and cancelation rates. According to their findings, Decatur Airport topped the list with an average delay of 32.89 minutes per flight in 2024.
Three Illinois Airports Among Nation’s Worst
Illinois dominated the top delay rankings:
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Decatur Airport: #1 — 32.89 minutes avg. delay; 2.31% cancelation rate
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MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (Belleville): #10 — 27.77 minutes avg. delay; 2.55% cancelation rate
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Chicago Rockford International Airport: #19 — 25.92 minutes avg. delay
These numbers placed Illinois as one of the most delay-prone states for air travel in the country.
Smaller Airports, Bigger Problems
The report highlights how regional airports often lack the infrastructure and resources to respond to scheduling pressures, staffing issues, and inclement weather.
A spokesperson for Exoticca commented:
“Delays will always happen, but it’s worth remembering that the vast majority are caused by factors that airports can address. Smaller regional facilities often lack the resources of major hubs.”
Airports like Aspen, Colorado, which ranked 8th with 28.69 minutes of average delay and a 6.54% cancelation rate, were also cited as examples where location and weather significantly impact operations.
National Delay Rankings Snapshot
Rounding out the Top 5 worst airports for delays:
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Decatur, IL
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Plattsburgh, NY
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Christiansted, Virgin Islands
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Mason City, IA
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Concord, NC
The study measured both delay minutes and cancelation percentages to reflect how likely passengers were to experience major travel disruptions.
Ever Been Delayed at a Regional Airport?
Have you had better luck flying from O’Hare or Midway? Drop your airport horror stories — or hacks — in the comments on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
