Newark airport had highest cancellation rate on July Fourth

Researchers have found that Newark Liberty International Airport has the worst cancellation record among major American airports on July 4, based on flight data from 2021 to 2025. Around 3.7% of departures were cancelled on that date, putting Newark ahead of LaGuardia at 3.3% and JFK at 2.7. Across the country, roughly one in four flights faced delays on July 4, while the cancellation average was 2%.

During the first week of July 2025, Miami, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Orlando recorded the highest departure delay rates, reaching above 35% in each case. Interestingly, July 4 itself tends to be quieter than the days around it, because most passengers travel before the holiday. The Port Authority expects 2.1 million people to pass through New York area airports over the 2026 Independence Day weekend.