December holiday travel can bring major stress with the threat of delays and cancellations, but one airline might just be your best bet for getting where you’re going on time.
According to a new study from eSIM travel company Airalo, American Airlines canceled just 0.8% of its flights during the past two December travel seasons—the lowest cancellation rate of any major U.S. carrier. That translates to 1,210 flights canceled in total for December 2022 and 2023.
Delta Air Lines followed closely behind, with 1,873 cancellations (or 1.19% of its schedule), while JetBlue posted a similarly impressive performance with just 548 canceled flights (1.21% of its schedule). United Airlines rounded out the pack with 1,497 cancellations, amounting to 1.27% of its December flights.
Regional airlines proved just as reliable, according to the study. PSA Airlines secured the number two spot overall, with only 0.98% of its flights canceled (298 total). For on-time arrivals, regional carrier Republic Airways claimed the crown, boasting an impressive December on-time rate of 85.4%. Delta also showed up strong in this category, landing second with an 84.3% on-time rate.
Of course, not every delay or cancellation is avoidable—Airalo’s study found the top culprits to be carrier-related issues, late-arriving aircraft, national aviation system delays and, of course, extreme weather.
The good news? Travelers have more protection than ever before. A new Department of Transportation rule ensures automatic refunds for flights that are significantly delayed or canceled, meaning you can skip the endless customer service calls and paperwork.
To sidestep holiday headaches altogether, be proactive: check your flight status early, know your passenger rights, and hope that Mother Nature keeps the snowstorms to a minimum.