Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has been ranked the most stressful airport in America after an analysis of flight disruption, worsening delays and the difficulty of reaching the terminal.
The study by Rightway Parking examined 55 of the busiest US airports, using 2025 data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics alongside Google Maps estimates for driving distance and journey times from city centres.
DFW recorded a delay rate of 27.86 per cent, while 2.76 per cent of flights were cancelled. Delays were also found to have risen by 33.67 per cent since 2021.
The airport’s location added to its overall score. DFW is about 22 miles from downtown Dallas, with journey times varying considerably depending on traffic.
DFW ranked ahead of Chicago and Washington
Chicago O’Hare International Airport came second in the ranking, despite having a lower delay rate of 24.68 per cent. Its delays had increased by 42.77 per cent since 2021, while the drive from central Chicago was estimated at about 50 minutes.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was placed third. It recorded the highest cancellation rate among the top three airports, at 3.86 per cent, while delays had risen by 73.92 per cent since 2021.
New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport completed the top five.
The findings came shortly after a particularly difficult day for passengers at DFW. On 1 October, the airport recorded 390 delays and 155 cancellations, the highest totals reported at any US airport that day, with severe weather contributing to disruption across North Texas.
DFW is one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs, handling more than 86 million passengers in the 2025 financial year, according to figures published by the airport. Its scale means that disruption can affect large numbers of travellers and connecting flights.
Salt Lake City named least stressful airport
At the other end of the study, Salt Lake City International Airport was ranked the least stressful, followed by San Jose International Airport in California and Daniel K Inouye International Airport in Honolulu.
All three recorded cancellation rates below 1 per cent and were judged to have comparatively shorter journeys from their respective city centres.
Rightway Parking said its overall scores gave equal weight to delay rates, cancellation rates, changes in delays since 2021, driving distance and estimated travel time. The ranking is an independent analysis rather than an official US government classification.
