Tiny airports drive the most travel stress in new rankings, Aspen tops the list
A Mood.com analysis finds smaller regional airports shoulder the most disruption from cancellations and delays, with Aspen-Pitkin County Airport leading the stressed-pack.
A Mood.com analysis ranking 384 US airports by stress places Aspen-Pitkin County Airport in Colorado at the top of the list, scoring 4.95 out of 10. The study weighs cancellations, delays, passenger volume and Google reviews, and cites nearly 9% flight cancellations and average departure delays past 45 minutes at the mountain resort gateway.
Watertown International Airport in upstate New York earned second place with a 4.68 score. The tiny field serves about 24,000 passengers a year, and the report notes an 8.8% cancellation rate with average arrival delays approaching 40 minutes. Plattsburgh International Airport, another small New York hub near the Adirondacks, also ranks in the top 10 with a 4.28 score.
Rounding out the top 10 are Hagerstown Regional Airport in Maryland at 4.65, Chippewa Valley Regional Airport in Wisconsin at 4.49, Houghton County Memorial Airport in Michigan at 4.33, Tyler Pounds Regional in Texas at 4.31, North Central West Virginia Airport at 4.31, Plattsburgh International in New York at 4.28, MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Illinois at 4.15 and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia at 4.12. The ranking underscores that small airports dominate the stress map because they lack the buffering capacity of big hubs to absorb disruption.
The Post previously reported Sacramento International Airport led on-time performance in 2024, with 82.3% of flights departing on time. Other high on-time performers included San Jose International at 82.06%, Tucson International at 81.33%, Reno-Tahoe International at 81.18% and Savannah/Hilton Head International at 80.47%.
The contrast suggests that the travel meltdown may happen not only at congested hubs but also in the wings, where fewer flights and longer gaps between operations amplify disruption.
Beyond Sacramento, analysts note widely varying on-time rates at other major and mid-sized airports. San Jose International recorded 82.06% on time, Tucson International 81.33%, Reno-Tahoe International 81.18% and Savannah/Hilton Head International 80.47%. The contrast reinforces that the risk of delays and cancellations is not limited to the longest lines or busiest runways, but can ripple through regional gateways as well.
Experts say the pattern is a reminder that stress in U.S. air travel remains widespread, with small airports most exposed to disruptions. Travelers are advised to build in extra time when flying from regional gateways and to monitor performance indicators close to departure.
