Flight cancellations hit 4-year high: Here are the worst airports, and tips for avoiding travel woes

Flight cancellations in the U.S. are running at a four-year high, with 2026 on track for the highest cancellation rate since 2022, according to FlightAware data cited in a Points Guy review. So far this summer, canceled flights on U.S. carriers are up about 15% versus last year. The report points to multiple contributing factors rather than a single cause: winter storms earlier in 2026, runway construction at major hubs such as San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and ongoing congestion and air traffic control delays in markets including New York City and Washington, D.C. On Sept. 21, more than 1,000 departures were canceled after an East Coast air traffic control equipment outage. In 2026, carriers have canceled about 2% of flights overall, with roughly 1 in 4 departures delayed nationwide during Memorial Day to Labor Day.