US Flight Cancellations Hit Four-Year High, California Airports See Most Delays
New data reveals a significant increase in flight disruptions across the nation, with specific California airports experiencing substantial delays.
Flight cancellations by U.S.-based airlines have surged 15% this summer compared to last year, reaching the highest point in four years, according to newly released data from FlightAware. This trend places 2026 on track to be the worst year for flight cancellations since 2022, with 2% of all flights operated by U.S. carriers canceled to date.
While California airports did not lead in cancellation numbers, they ranked among the worst for flight delays during the summer travel season. San Diego International Airport (SAN) recorded the third-highest number of delays, with 33.6% of its flights failing to depart on time between Memorial Day and Labor Day. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) followed closely, ranking fourth with 32.1% of its flights experiencing delays.
Nashville International Airport recorded the highest percentage of delayed flights nationwide, with 35.3% of its summer flights delayed. In contrast, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) emerged as one of the most on-time airports, with 78% of its flights departing as scheduled, ranking fourth nationally for punctuality. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) led the country with 82% of flights departing on time.
On the East Coast, New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) experienced the highest rate of cancellations, with 6.5% of flights canceled over the summer. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) followed with 5.8%, and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) was third, with 4.2% of flights canceled.
This increase in travel disruptions follows a recent major communications system outage that led to over 1,000 flight cancellations earlier this month. In response to the ongoing issues, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the Federal Aviation Administration have announced the deployment of a new software tool designed to improve the prediction of flight delays and provide airlines and air traffic controllers with enhanced information. This system will initially be implemented in the Washington, D.C. area.