Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is in the spotlight again — but this time, not for the best reason. A new report by Insure My Trip shows PBI has one of the highest flight delay rates in the country, second only to Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National.
The Numbers
- 27.19% of PBI flights ran late (first half of 2025)
- Up from the same period last year
- Above the national average of 23%
- More than 8.5 million travelers passed through PBI in early 2025, a jump of nearly 500,000 from last year
Why the Delays?
- Ongoing runway maintenance and construction projects (expected to wrap by spring 2026)
- PBI’s booming popularity since the pandemic — more flights, more passengers, and more strain
Florida Leads the List
PBI isn’t alone. Florida covers the “delay list” with five airports in the top 10:
- Palm Beach (PBI)
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
- Tampa (TPA)
- Orlando (MCO)
- Miami (MIA)
Top 10 Worst Airports for Delays (2025)
- Reagan National (DCA) – 27.6%
- Palm Beach (PBI) – 27.2%
- Newark (EWR) – 26.3%
- Knoxville (TYS) – 26.2%
- Cincinnati (CVG) – 25.2%
- Norfolk (ORF) – 25.0%
- Buffalo (BUF) – 25.0%
- Jacksonville (JAX) – 24.7%
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – 24.5%
- Memphis (MEM) – 24.5%
The Silver Lining
Once runway projects finish, officials say delays should ease up. And despite the wait times, PBI remains a traveler favorite for its size, convenience, and easy access compared to its mega-airport neighbors.
