NORFOLK, Va. — We all know that traveling during the holiday season can feel especially stressful, and that for many airports, delays and cancellations are almost expected.
A newly released study by Forbes Advisor, however, shows us that catching a flight locally may create even more of a headache.
Norfolk International Airport (ORF) was ranked the 8th worst airport in the country for holiday travel, according to their numbers.
Forbes Advisor Digital Public Relations Manager Zoi Galarraga explained the study looked at rates and trends from the percentage of flights canceled and the percentage of aviation delays to the average holiday flight fare.
Specifically, researchers looked at the 100 busiest airports across the country based on the total number of domestic passengers in 2021.
“Airlines and airports were scored on key metrics that range from customer complaints, flight delays, diversions and cancellations to mishandled baggage and average airfare price during the holiday season," Galarraga said.
She said Norfolk landed in the top 10 worst airports because of too many flight cancellations and delays, high fare prices, and a problem with on-time flights.
For ORF, 2.33% of flights were canceled during the holiday season, and the average price for a trip was $431.45.
But Galarraga said rankings can change next year.
“For now, we just hope that it serves as a resource for travelers as they make their holiday travel plans," Galarraga said.
Steve Sterling, the executive vice president of ORF, said the data could be misleading.
"When arriving aircraft to Norfolk are delayed, the cause of the delay is usually unrelated to operations at the destination airport and more likely a result of an earlier event in the day. In other words, a delayed departure at any origin airport will most likely result in a delayed arrival at the destination airport and since we are typically the end of a spoke, especially late at night, we see a larger accumulation of these delays here at Norfolk.
In addition, over the past five years that this data represents, Norfolk International Airport has grown from four airlines to seven (2017-2021) and will be adding an eighth airline when Spirit Airlines begins service in March 2023. The addition of these Ultra-Low Cost Carriers (ULCC) airlines provides lower airfare cost options for travel to and from Norfolk International Airport as well as new direct service destinations."
Holiday travelers at Norfolk International also questioned the ranking.
When asked about the survey, Norfolk resident Doug Coventry said: “I disagree. I’ve only been to probably 15 or 16 (airports) but I find that hard to believe.”
Traveler Robert Dean was passing through ORF on his way to Texas.
“Eighth worst? No, I don’t agree with that," Dean said. “I have definitely seen worse. I don’t think – certainly not the best but it’s not the 8th worst. I don’t agree with that.”
Another traveler, Fortune Akinremi said something similar. He said ORF is one of the better airports he's traveled in.
“Me and my brother just came from Massachusetts and the airport there was a lot more crowded than this one," he said. "It’s a beautiful place."
The worst airport for holiday travel overall was Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York.
Forbes also found the top worst airlines to fly during holiday travel times, with JetBlue Airways coming in at the top.
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