Escaping for the Holidays? North Dakota Airports Are More Dependable Than You Think
If you’re one of the 122.4 million Americans expected to hit the road—or runway—this holiday season, first of all: bless your patience. Between weather, packed airports, and that one person who stands up the second the seatbelt light turns off, holiday travel can feel like an extreme sport. But here’s some good news for us in the Upper Midwest: North Dakota is quietly becoming one of the most reliable places to fly from during the holidays.
North Dakota Is One of the Most Reliable States to Fly From This Holiday Season
According to a new study, the Peace Garden State ranks as the 9th most reliable state for air travel, which might be the least North Dakota headline of all time, but also one of the best. While other states are dealing with constant delays and cancellations, North Dakota sees about 19% of flights delayed and just 0.8% canceled. In holiday travel terms, that’s practically a miracle.
Sure, 19% delayed isn’t perfect, but during the busiest travel season of the year, it means your odds are pretty good that you’ll get where you’re going without spending the night on an airport floor wrapped in a complimentary airline blanket that feels like a napkin.
Read More: North Dakota vs. the Nation: How Our State Stands Out for Retirees
Our neighbors also did pretty well. Minnesota landed in 5th place, with 17.9% of flights delayed and 0.9% canceled. That's not bad for a state with weather mood swings.
Montana may have bragging rights, though, scoring best in the region at 5th overall, with only 17.7% delayed and a tiny 0.5% canceled.
The study was conducted by Squaremouth, the nation’s leading travel insurance marketplace, which analyzed flight delays and cancellations by airport, state, and month to determine where travelers are most likely to take off on time. And yes, North Dakota holding its own in a national travel study feels a little like winning “Most Reliable Friend” in a group full of chaos.
So if you’re flying out of North Dakota this holiday season, take a moment to enjoy the small victories. Your flight might actually leave on time, your bag might show up with you, and you just might make it to Grandma’s before the pie is gone. In a season full of travel uncertainty, that’s something worth celebrating!
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