Airlines

Which US Airports Have the Longest and Shortest Wait Times in 2023?

Travelers have legitimate concerns about the potential air travel portion of their travels with the busy summer season rapidly approaching. The extremely long lines at airports and the frequent and extensive flight delays we experienced in 2023. The summer season often brings an increase in passenger volumes, leading to crowded terminals, longer queues, and potential delays.

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In the midst of the anticipation, luggage storage company Bounce conducted a timely new study, analyzing the average time it takes to get through a number of the country’s major airports, including passing through TSA security checks and passport control points—to identify the U.S. airports that currently have the longest and shortest security passenger wait times.

U.S. airports with the longest wait times

John F. Kennedy International Airport: Taking the top spot is New York’s JFK International Airport. The current average wait time for security is 22 minutes, 48 seconds. You will also need to spend 25 minutes, 36 seconds in passport control, for a total of 48 minutes, 24 seconds. JFK handles a lot of both domestic and international travelers as one of the busiest airports in the US. Longer lines at passport control and security checkpoints result from increased pressure on the infrastructure and staff at the airport.
San Francisco International Airport, California: It had a total wait time of 47 minutes, 18 seconds. SFO is a major entry point for international travel, especially from Asia and Europe. However, the large number of international travelers strains the security and passport control procedures. Similarly to this, the layout and space constraints of the airport can lead to bottlenecks and lengthen wait times.
Miami International Airport, Florida: The combined average wait time at Miami International Airport is 45 minutes and 54 seconds, placing it third overall. As an important hub for flights to and from Latin America and the Caribbean, MIA sees a sizable influx of visitors from abroad. This can result in longer lines at passport control.
Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport, Florida: The airport with the longest average wait for passport control is Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International, where the wait time is 25 minutes and 54 seconds. One of the busiest airports in the world, JFK, is just a few seconds slower than that. Passport control lines can get busy because of the large passenger volume, especially during the busiest travel hours.

U.S. airports with the shortest wait times

1. Baltimore/Washington International Airport, Maryland: Passengers fly through security and passport checks here with a cumulative wait time of just 14 minutes and 48 seconds. Fewer passengers could mean shorter lines at passport control and security.
2. San Antonio International Airport, Texas: With a total wait time of 17 minutes and 42 seconds, San Antonio comes in second. SAT, which is based in Uptown Central San Antonio, Texas, sees less passenger flow because it is not a significant airline hub. The airport predominantly handles domestic flights, which can result in shorter lines at security and passport check.
3. San Jose International Airport, California: It had a cumulative wait time of 18 minutes and 18 seconds, round off at the top three. Lessening wait times may be a result of the decreased passenger volume and the fact that business travelers are more familiar with the security processes.
4. Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey: It has the shortest three minute, six-second average security wait. Despite the fact that Newark serves as a significant hub for both domestic and foreign aircraft, the wait times for security do not reflect this. This might be the result of effective planning and construction, as well as cutting-edge security tools like CT scanners and automated screening lanes.

Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

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The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

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Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.