If you’re gearing up for Thanksgiving travel… well you already know you should be preparing your deep breathing exercises and packing your patience. Now, a new analysis of federal aviation data shows that some airlines consistently struggle with on-time performance during the holiday rush, and Spirit Airlines is high on that list.
According to a new study from Lance Surety Bonds, which analyzed Bureau of Transportation Statistics data from 2016 through 2024, Spirit delays nearly 1 in 5 Thanksgiving flights. But here’s the plot twist: The low-cost carrier with plenty of troubles of its own is still somehow not even the worst offender.
Southwest and JetBlue top the list for delays
Spirit’s Thanksgiving delay rate is high, but Southwest and JetBlue are actually even worse. Researchers found they each delay about 24.2 percent of Thanksgiving flights historically, and last year that number climbed to 25.9 percent.
Hawaiian Airlines remains the holiday MVP in the sky, with just 10.4 percent of flights delayed during last year’s Thanksgiving period, making it three times more reliable than Southwest, per the report.
Some airports are delay disasters
It’s not just the airline you choose — where you fly from matters, too. The same report found: Orlando Sanford International is the worst Thanksgiving airport in the US, with a whopping 33.4 percent of flights delayed last year. Newark Liberty followed closely at 31.9 percent. San Francisco (23.1 percent), Fort Lauderdale (21.6 percent), and San Diego (20.2 percent) rounded out the top five.
Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson is the surprise bright spot on the list, reporting the fewest delayed flights during the Thanksgiving window (11.9 percent).