The main reasons airports are struggling with delays

Airport delays stem from a mix of staffing shortages, aging infrastructure, and weather patterns that compound each other. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screens roughly 2.7 million passengers daily across U.S. airports, and when staffing falls short at security checkpoints, the backlog spreads to gates and runways. Airlines also operate with tighter crew schedules than they did before 2020, meaning a single absence cascades into cancelled or delayed flights.

Ground crews—the people who load baggage, refuel planes, and push aircraft from gates—are understaffed at many major hubs. These workers are employed by contractors, not airlines, and contractor companies have struggled to hire and retain staff at wages that compete with other industries. When a plane sits at the gate waiting for a crew to push it back, every flight behind it delays.

Air traffic control towers also operate with fewer controllers than the system was designed to handle. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been training new controllers, but the process takes years, and retirements have outpaced new hires at some facilities. This creates bottlenecks, especially during peak travel hours and in busy corridors like the Northeast.

Key Takeaways

  • TSA checkpoint staffing directly affects how quickly passengers board, and understaffing at security creates cascading delays throughout the airport.
  • Ground crews employed by contractors—not airlines—are in short supply at major hubs, which delays aircraft pushback and subsequent flights.
  • Air traffic control towers operate below full capacity in many regions because controller retirements have outpaced new hires.
  • Weather delays are amplified when staffing is thin, because airports cannot recover as quickly from disruptions.
  • Delays vary significantly by airport and time of day; peak hours at major hubs like Atlanta, Dallas, and Chicago see the worst congestion.

How weather makes staffing shortages worse

A thunderstorm or winter weather event that would cause a few hours of delay in a fully staffed airport can cause a full day of cancellations when crews are already stretched thin. When flights are cancelled, crews end up in the wrong city, and airlines cannot quickly reposition them. A shortage of reserve pilots and flight attendants means the airline has no backup to cover the next day's schedule.

Ground operations also slow in bad weather. Deicing aircraft, clearing runways, and inspecting equipment all take longer, and if the ground crew is already at minimum size, there is no cushion. The result is a domino effect: one weather event can disrupt an airport's schedule for two or three days afterward.

Which airports are hit hardest

Large hub airports—Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago O'Hare, and Denver—handle the most passengers and see the most delays in absolute numbers. However, delays are not evenly distributed. Regional airports that depend on a single airline or contractor for ground services can experience severe disruptions if that contractor loses staff.

The Northeast Corridor (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.) experiences chronic delays because the airspace is congested and air traffic control capacity is constrained. Adding staffing shortages to that congestion creates a compounding problem. West Coast airports like Los Angeles and San Francisco have also reported increased delays, though the causes vary by facility.

What airlines are doing to manage delays

Airlines have reduced the number of flights they schedule during peak hours at congested airports, a practice called "slot management." This means fewer flights depart and arrive during the busiest times, which reduces delays for the flights that do operate. However, it also means fewer seats available during those hours, which can drive up fares.

Some airlines have increased pay for flight crews willing to work extra trips, and a few have hired additional crew members. These moves are expensive and take time to implement, so they do not solve delays when ready. Airlines have also invested in faster turnaround procedures—reducing the time a plane sits at the gate between flights—but this only helps if ground crews are available to execute those procedures.

What the FAA and TSA are doing

The FAA has expanded air traffic control hiring and is training controllers at an accelerated pace, but new controllers take three to four years to become fully certified. The agency has also implemented procedures to move traffic more efficiently through congested airspace, though these changes take months to roll out and test.

The TSA has increased staffing at major checkpoint locations and adjusted shift schedules to cover peak travel times. However, TSA hiring is limited by federal pay scales, which lag behind private security companies. The agency has also deployed more officers to secondary screening areas to move passengers through the system faster.

How long delays are likely to continue

Staffing shortages are not expected to resolve quickly. Air traffic controller training takes years, and ground crew hiring depends on wage increases that airlines and contractors are still negotiating. Weather will continue to disrupt schedules seasonally—winter in the Northeast and Midwest, summer thunderstorms in the South and Midwest.

The FAA and airlines have stated that capacity constraints will persist through at least 2025, particularly at major hubs during peak travel periods. This does not mean every flight will be delayed, but it does mean delays are more likely during busy times and at busy airports than they were before 2020.

What you can do if your flight is delayed

Book flights during off-peak hours when possible—early morning or late evening flights experience fewer delays than midday flights. If you must fly during peak times, choose smaller airports near your destination when an option exists; flying into a regional airport instead of a major hub can reduce your exposure to congestion.

Allow extra time at the airport, especially at major hubs and during peak travel seasons. If your flight is delayed, ask the airline about rebooking options before the delay is announced; airlines often rebook passengers proactively when they know a delay is coming. Keep your phone charged and monitor your airline's app for real-time updates, since delays can change rapidly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are delays worse now than they were before 2020?

Airlines and ground contractors reduced staff during the pandemic and have not fully rehired. At the same time, air traffic control staffing fell behind due to retirements. The result is that the system operates with less capacity than it did in 2019, even though passenger numbers have returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Can I get compensation if my flight is delayed?

The U.S. does not require airlines to pay compensation for delays caused by weather or air traffic control issues. However, airlines may offer rebooking, meals, or hotel stays at their discretion. Check your airline's policy and ask a gate agent what options are available.

Are some airlines better than others for avoiding delays?

Delay rates vary by airline and by route. You can check on-time performance data at the Bureau of Transportation Statistics website, which publishes monthly reports by airline and airport. However, delays depend heavily on which airports an airline uses; an airline with good overall performance may have poor performance on a specific route.

Will hiring more TSA officers reduce flight delays?

TSA staffing helps reduce delays at security checkpoints, but it is only one piece of the problem. Even with faster security lines, delays caused by air traffic control shortages, ground crew shortages, or weather will still occur. Solving delays requires improvements across all three areas.

Should I avoid flying during certain seasons?

Winter travel in the Northeast and Midwest carries higher weather delay risk. Summer thunderstorms affect the South and Midwest. Holiday periods (Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break) see peak passenger volumes and higher delays regardless of season. Flying in shoulder seasons—April, May, September, October—generally means fewer delays.