Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Our Airports are Less Punctual Than Yours


By

Garth Johnston

Published Oct 15, 2005

Modified Mar 7, 2008


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

Garth Johnston

Published Oct 15, 2005

Modified Mar 7, 2008


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Airport screening

According to new figures from the Department of Transportation, Of the nations 33 major airports the three New York Airports come in 31st (Kennedy - 69% on time), 32nd (LaGuardia - 67% on time) and 33rd (Newark - 66% on time) for on-time arrivals. Worse, our numbers this year were dramatically worse than last (an average of 6% less flights left on time). WOOP! We're not number 1!

Why the terrible timeliness? Firstly it doesn't help that we have an incredible, and increasing, amount of flights and business coming and going through our three airports (we're talking 1,184,186 flights from 07/04-07/05 carrying 98,165,872 people). Second, according to an FAA spokesperson, is the weather. And third is just the airports themselves, i.e. LaGuardia which only has two intersecting runways.

But if our airports suck, where do the planes land on time then? In order: Salt Lake City (83.19%), Chicago Midway (81.99%), Houston (81.83%), Denver (81.64%) and Cincinnati (81.39%).

And what can you do to get an on time flight? Fly early. Apparently 90% of flights leaving between 7-8 a.m. do so on time.

Tagged

airport

chicago

cincinnati

city

denver

department of transportation

houston

Lake City

new york

News: National

people

Salt Lake

salt lake city

transportation


Garth Johnston

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

Brooklyn DA brings back warrant-clearing event as quality-of-life tickets surge

The district attorney will host a warrant and ticket clearance event after the NYPD cracked down on quality-of-life infractions.

By

Ben Feuerherd

Published Oct 2, 2026 at 6:30 a.m. ET


Hochul names NY AG James as special prosecutor on alleged rape case at Cornell University

The governor said she does not have faith that the police and the Tompkins County DA effectively investigated the case.

By

Jon Campbell

News

Hochul names NY AG James as special prosecutor on alleged rape case at Cornell University

The governor said she does not have faith that the police and the Tompkins County DA effectively investigated the case.

By

Jon Campbell


Founder of NYC LGBTQ therapy practice charged with rape after alleged sexual assaults

By

Giulia Heyward

US judge in NY indefinitely blocks ICE from making arrests at immigration courthouses

By

Arya Sundaram

Lawyer challenging NYC rent freeze releases Mamdani officials’ emails and text messages

By

David Brand


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .