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
Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE), Colorado
Watertown International Airport (ART), New York
Hagerstown Regional Airport (HGR), Maryland
Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (EAU), Wisconsin
Houghton County Memorial Airport (CMX), Michigan
Tyler Pounds Regional Airport (TYR), Texas
North Central West Virginia Airport (CKB), West Virginia
Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG), New York
MidAmerica St. Louis Airport/Scott Air Force Base (BLV), Illinois
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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