Area Airports Rank Among the Worst in the Nation

Anyone flying home for the holidays to or from one of New York’s airports may be in for some unpleasant surprises.

Just in time for the Holiday season, the Daily Beast has ranked the 27 biggest airports in America, and all three of the New York Metropolitan area airports (this includes Newark) rank among the lowest.

The Airports were ranked in seven categories, and allotted points to on-time arrivals and departures, security wait time, wait time on the tarmac, and incidents an accidents. Newark ranked as the worst airport in the country, coming in 24th out of 27 for safety, 26th out of 27 for amenities, and 26th out of 27 for tarmac nightmares.

JFK Airport fared slightly better for safety and amenities, but was ranked last in tarmac nightmares. LaGuardia fared the best out of the three, but still did not do well, coming in last for amenities among all major airports.

Here’s the full breakdown for New York’s major airports:

#19, LaGuardia Airport (LGA) -- New York City

2009 rank: 20th
On-time departures 2010: 81%
On-time arrivals 2010: 75%
On-time holiday departures: 79%
On-time holiday arrivals: 77%
Average security wait time: 6 minutes
Tarmac nightmares: 23rd out of 27
Safety: 6th out of 27
Amenities: 27th out of 27

#25, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) -- New York City

2009 rank: 24th
On-time departures 2010: 77%
On-time arrivals 2010: 76%
On-time holiday departures: 81%
On-time holiday arrivals: 77%
Average security wait time: 7 minutes
Tarmac nightmares: 27th out of 27
Safety: 13th out of 27
Amenities: 20th out of 27

#27, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

2009 rank: 27th
On-time departures 2010: 76%
On-time arrivals 2010: 73%
On-time holiday departures: 77%
On-time holiday arrivals: 76%
Average security wait time: 7 minutes
Tarmac nightmares: 26th out of 27
Safety: 24th out of 27
Amenities: 26th out of 27

Just be glad we don't live in Prague, home to Franz Kafka International Airport, the most dysfunctional in the world.

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