A new study has identified the most stressful airports in the United States for travellers, with Chicago O'Hare International Airport topping the list. The research, conducted by ground transportation platform Mozio, analysed factors such as flight delays, parking costs, and distance from city centres at the 20 busiest airports in the country.
Chicago O'Hare received a stress score of 8.42 out of 10, with over a quarter of flights (25.4%) experiencing delays. Parking costs $43 per day, and the drive to downtown Chicago takes over an hour. New York City's LaGuardia Airport came second with a score of 7.54, featuring expensive parking at $80 per day and a 26.3% delay rate for departing flights.
John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport tied for third place, each scoring 7.19. JFK sees 78.3% of flights depart on time but suffers from high passenger volumes, $70 daily parking, and a 56-minute drive to Times Square. Newark offers slightly better on-time performance (76.2%) and a shorter journey to Midtown Manhattan.
In contrast, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport was rated the least stressful busy airport, with a stress score of 1.76. It boasts an 81.5% on-time departure rate, $30 daily parking, and a 20-minute drive to the state capitol. The study highlights that while air travel can be stressful, some airports manage to provide a smoother experience for passengers.
