Here are the five most reliable small U.S. airports... and the least reliable ones

Big airports usually get the blame when travel plans fall apart. Crowds, security lines and weather delays have ripple effects. But a new report from AirAdvisor suggests small, local airports—often considered less stressful alternatives—are subject to just as many delays.

In a 13-month analysis of U.S. Department of Transportation data from May 2024 to May 2025, AirAdvisor’s researchers looked at 70 small airports across the country to identify the ones that keep passengers moving and the ones where delays can cause real headaches. Two metrics shaped the ranking: "chronically delayed flights," weighted at 60 percent, measured how often flights arrived 30 minutes late. The remaining 40 percent looked at "long-delay rate after 5pm," tracking flights delayed by 60 minutes or more in the evening.

The report shows that the delay risk at small airports is concentrated. At the worst performers, long evening delays were up to four times more likely than at the best regional peers. And while longer delays are still relatively rare overall, they tend to snowball after 5pm. In fact, at nearly every airport studied, most 30-minute delays turned into 60-minute delays after 5pm.

Five airports tied for best in class, all with zero flights delayed 60 minutes or more after 5pm during the study period: Santa Barbara Airport, Morgantown Municipal Airport, Durango–La Plata County Airport, Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport and Gillette–Campbell County Airport.

It’s a five-way tie, based largely on their chronically delayed flight rates. The pattern is consistent. Delays that happen earlier in the day rarely drag into the evening. At these airports, most disruptions are resolved before the final departures, limiting the risk of missed last flights or unexpected overnight stays.

As for the worst-performing small airports, Nebraska’s Lincoln Airport and Ohio’s Toledo Express Airport share the top spot. Both operate with relatively low flight volumes, which means fewer recovery options when something goes wrong. According to the report, short delays here frequently escalate into 60-minute-plus disruptions after 5pm, when backup aircraft and alternative flights are limited.

Other small airports rounding out the bottom five include Concord–Padgett Regional Airport, Rafael Hernandez International Airport and West Virginia International Yeager Airport. At Yeager, for example, just a handful of daily flights means even one major delay can derail the schedule for days, not hours.

Smaller airports may be easier, but they're not automatically smoother. So if you’re flying through a regional airport, especially on an evening departure, it’s worth checking its delay track record first and look for alternatives if necessary.

The five most reliable small U.S. airports (five-way tie)

1. Santa Barbara Airport (SBA)
2. Morgantown Municipal Airport (MGW)
3. Durango–La Plata County Airport (DRO)
4. Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB)
5. Gillette–Campbell County Airport (GCC)

The five least reliable small U.S. airports

1. Lincoln Airport (LNK)
2. Toledo Express Airport (TOL)
3. Concord–Padgett Regional Airport (USA)
4. Rafael Hernández International Airport (BQN)
5. West Virginia International Yeager Airport (CRW)