NEWARK, NJ – If you’re planning to travel for the holidays from New Jersey, you might want to brace yourself. If you’re a frequent flier, you might already know.

Newark Airport is the worst airport in America, according to a new report.

Recent data reveals that navigating airports during the holiday season presents significant challenges for travelers. Over Thanksgiving, approximately 4.51 million Americans traveled by air, with this number increasing to around 7.2 million over Christmas.

We expected that more densely populated areas of the country and those locations that have to deal with snow for a better portion of the winter months would fare poorly—and for the most part, they did. The worst airport in our rankings was Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey—and it wasn’t particularly close.

Their “score” of 144 was 13 points higher than No. 2 (Colorado), the same difference between Colorado and No. 6 Massachusetts(117).

EWR’s average time to get through TSA lines was 23.1 minutes, one of just three airports to reach the headache-inducing 20-minute threshold (Louisiana and Hawaii were the others). Its 25.61% delay rate was its “best” feature, and even that was the sixth worst mark on the list.

Cancellations were rough, too, at 2.86%—just below North Dakota’s 2.88% and tied with Maine’s rate among the worst in the country.

Travelers across the United States, whether passing through major hubs like Denver International Airport or smaller locations like Dawson Community Airport, experienced long TSA wait times, delays, and cancellations. This report analyzes the performance of the busiest airports in each state based on three criteria: average time to pass through TSA, flight delay percentages, and flight cancellation percentages.

Findings indicate that Northeastern and cold-weather states generally offer a less efficient experience. Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey ranks as the most challenging, with a significant lead in the overall negative score. At Newark, the average TSA wait time stands at 23.1 minutes, with a 25.61% flight delay rate and 2.86% cancellation rate, placing it among the highest in these categories nationally.

Other airport alternatives in New Jersey include Atlantic City, Mercer County and Philadelphia. You can also travel through New York City to get to LaGuardia or JFK.

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Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

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