Airports can be stressful, especially in big cities with crowds, long lines, and delays. But a new study of 384 U.S. airports found that the most stressful airport isn’t in New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago—it’s Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) in Colorado.
The study looked at five main stress factors: passenger volume, departure delays, arrival delays, flight cancellations, and Google ratings. Each factor contributed equally to the final stress score. ASE scored 4.95 out of 10, the highest in the U.S. Travelers reported long delays and a high cancellation rate—about 9% of flights get canceled, and the average departure delay is 45 minutes.
Interestingly, 9 out of the top 10 most stressful airports are small regional airports. These airports handle fewer passengers, but delays and cancellations make traveling stressful. Even major airports like Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) made the top 10, landing at No. 10.
Top 10 Most Stressful U.S. Airports
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Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE), Colorado
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Watertown International Airport (ART), New York
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Hagerstown Regional Airport (HGR), Maryland
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Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (EAU), Wisconsin
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Houghton County Memorial Airport (CMX), Michigan
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Tyler Pounds Regional Airport (TYR), Texas
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North Central West Virginia Airport (CKB), West Virginia
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Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG), New York
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MidAmerica St. Louis Airport/Scott Air Force Base (BLV), Illinois
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Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Georgia
Travelers should be prepared for delays and cancellations, especially at small regional airports, to avoid extra stress.
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