Flight-compensation firm SkyRefund analyzed Bureau of Transportation Statistics data for the past three Decembers and found that Orlando International Airport leads the nation in holiday delays, with 26.39 % of flights arriving late. Miami ranked second at 24.5 %, while New York-area hubs JFK and Newark tied for third. Conversely, Los Angeles International posted the best performance at 18.67 %.
The findings matter for corporates routing staff through Orlando for conferences at the Orange County Convention Center or to service the booming space-industry corridor. Delays ripple into downstream connections, hotel re-accommodations and per-diem overruns. Travel managers should consider buffer nights or alternative routings via Tampa or Atlanta during peak weeks (15 Dec.–5 Jan.).
![Orlando Tops List of Holiday Delay Hotspots, Study Warns Business Travelers]()
SkyRefund attributes Florida’s woes to a mix of convective storms, ATC staffing limits and the state’s concentration of low-cost carriers with tighter turnaround schedules. The study’s author warns that 2025’s record passenger numbers combined with lingering FAA staffing shortages could exacerbate holds.
Action items for mobility teams include pushing out pre-trip advisories, encouraging carry-on-only travel to facilitate rerouting, and leveraging airlines’ free same-day change policies when storms threaten. Employers must also refresh duty-of-care protocols, ensuring real-time location tracking once staff land at alternate airports.
Analysts note that while the study covers historical data, early indicators—such as December’s first-week delay rates—suggest the pattern is repeating, reinforcing the need for contingency planning.
The findings matter for corporates routing staff through Orlando for conferences at the Orange County Convention Center or to service the booming space-industry corridor. Delays ripple into downstream connections, hotel re-accommodations and per-diem overruns. Travel managers should consider buffer nights or alternative routings via Tampa or Atlanta during peak weeks (15 Dec.–5 Jan.).
SkyRefund attributes Florida’s woes to a mix of convective storms, ATC staffing limits and the state’s concentration of low-cost carriers with tighter turnaround schedules. The study’s author warns that 2025’s record passenger numbers combined with lingering FAA staffing shortages could exacerbate holds.
Action items for mobility teams include pushing out pre-trip advisories, encouraging carry-on-only travel to facilitate rerouting, and leveraging airlines’ free same-day change policies when storms threaten. Employers must also refresh duty-of-care protocols, ensuring real-time location tracking once staff land at alternate airports.
Analysts note that while the study covers historical data, early indicators—such as December’s first-week delay rates—suggest the pattern is repeating, reinforcing the need for contingency planning.
Source: PEOPLE Magazine
