Newark Airport Cancels Most Flights in U.S. in 2023

By Yehudit Garmaise

So far, in 2023, Newark International Airport  (EWR) has canceled more flights than any other American airport, according to the US Department of Transportation (DOT).

Since January, the airlines that fly out of Newark canceled their flights at a rate of  3.78%: the highest rate in the U.S., according to the insurance agency InsureMyTrip, which analyzed DOT data. 

Sadly, coming in second and third place for airports with the highest cancellation rates were LaGuardia and JFK, which canceled flights at rates of 3.32% and 2.91%, respectively.

The good news is that all three New York City airports canceled fewer flights in 2023 than in 2022.

Last year, with 5.19% of its flights canceled, LaGuardia ranked as the worst offender of canceling flights, followed by Newark at 4.82% and JFK at 3.69%.

Data that describes the rate of flight cancellations nationally will likely interest the more than 2.5 million passengers who will fly next week for Thanksgiving, the day on which the country sees the most travel. 

Next Sunday, United States airlines have more than 22,000 flights scheduled with 3 million total seats available, according to the digital media company Airline Geeks. 

Airports will likely see an increase from last year's post-Thanksgiving Sunday rush when the TSA screened a record 2.56 million passengers.

Most airlines try to rebook passengers on the next available plane when their flights are canceled, but delays and cancellation policies vary.