The holiday season is upon us, and millions of travelers are expected to take to the skies as they head to their celebratory destinations over the coming weeks. Unfortunately, many travelers may find their plans are impacted by the ongoing effects of the federal government shutdown, which has put a strain on airport operations in the country.
Flight delays aren’t just inconvenient to travelers, but can also be costly. InsureMyTrip reports that a six-hour flight delay can cost a traveler more than $250 in food, transportation and other incidental costs. An overnight delay pushes that total past $600, especially during the holiday season.
According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, from January through July 2025, flight performance in the country was as follows:
- On time: 75.52%
- Air carrier delay: 6.72%
- Weather delay: 1%
- National aviation system delay: 6.53%
- Security delay: 0.04%
- Aircraft arriving late: 8.16%
- Cancelled: 1.72%
- Diverted: 0.3%
The possible unpredictability of air travel this season emphasizes the importance of purchasing travel insurance. This coverage protects travelers against things like trip cancellation or interruption, travel accidents, lost luggage and more. However, policies are not one-size-fits-all, and travelers should take care in considering their coverage options.
When determining which travel insurance policy is right for them, the U.S. Department of State recommends travelers consider the following:
- The policy’s validity in the counties they plan to visit
- Length of their trip
- Emergency medical care
- Medical transportation back to the United States
- Travel and lodging expenses
- Cash for emergencies
- All current medical conditions for them and their family
- Activities they plan to participate in
In the slideshow above, we’ll look at which ten U.S. airports the DOT found to have the highest percentages of delayed flights in the first half of 2025.
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.