If you thought Chicago’s mega-hub O’Hare International Airport was the most delay-prone airport in Illinois, think again. A new study by travel company Exoticca analyzed over 7.5 million U.S. flights using Bureau of Transportation Statistics data and crowned another local travel hub—Decatur Airport—as the nation’s most delay-ridden departure point in 2024.
RECOMMENDED: Chicago O’Hare is officially the most stressful airport in all of the U.S.
According to the numbers, flights out of Decatur averaged a sluggish 32.89-minute delay—the worst in the country. Not far behind were two more Illinois airports: Belleville’s MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (at number 10 with 27.77 minutes of delay) and Rockford (at 19 with 25.92 minutes). All three turned the Land of Lincoln into the Land of Late Departures.
To make matters worse, Decatur also saw 2.31-percent of its flights canceled. Belleville was even worse off in this department, with a cancelation rate of 2.55-percent.
So what’s going on in Decatur? The small airport handles limited commercial traffic, meaning even minor disruptions—weather, mechanical issues, crew delays—can ripple through the schedule with outsize impact. Fewer flights mean fewer options for rerouting, and fewer staff means slower recoveries when things go wrong.
Decatur edged out airports in Plattsburgh, NY; Christiansted, Virgin Islands; Mason City, IA and Concord, NC. the list reads like a who’s who of lesser-known airports struggling to keep flights on time.
For travelers, the takeaway is clear: if you’re flying from Decatur, build in extra time and brace for delays. Or, if possible, consider alternatives in nearby cities with more flight options and a stronger on-time track record.
Illinois may be the heart of the Midwest, but in 2024, it was also the epicenter of flight delays. And Decatur wore the crown.