Flight delays and tarmac waits hit worst levels in years, report finds

(InvestigateTV) — Summer travel season is here, and a consumer watchdog group reports airline travel may be getting more frustrating for passengers.

“We found that among all the U.S. airlines, 1 in 12 flights was an hour or more late,” said Consumer Watchdog Teresa Murray with U.S. PIRG.

Using data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. PIRG’s new report, “The Plane Truth,” found 2025 had the worst on-time performance since 2014. The report also found long tarmac delays increased.

Murray said there were more than 700 domestic tarmac delays last year, up 63 percent from the year before.

“It’s the largest volume since the tarmac delay rule went into effect in 2010. Lots and lots of tarmac delays,” Murray said.

A tarmac delay can happen before takeoff or after landing, when passengers are on the plane but do not have the opportunity to get off.

Murray said those delays can be caused by a range of issues, including weather, heavy air traffic or air traffic control limitations.

“If you’re talking 3, 4, 5, 6 hours — whatever plans you have, have to be changed. It may not mean that you missed your thing, but it’s going to be a whole problem,” Murray said.

The report also looked at on-time arrivals at major airports. Among the 30 largest airports in the federal data, some of the lowest on-time arrival rates were at Washington Reagan, Newark, New York LaGuardia, Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago O’Hare.

What travelers can do

Murray said travelers should start by knowing their rights, including rules around refunds, lost or damaged bags, long tarmac delays and getting bumped from an overbooked flight.

When booking, she said give yourself a buffer and try to schedule your flight as early in the day as possible.

And if you can, avoid connecting flights, where one delay can turn into a much bigger problem.

Murray also recommends checking a flight’s on-time record before you buy. Major airlines are required to make that information available when you’re choosing a flight, and it can help you compare options before you book.