This Underrated Airport Has The Highest On-Time Departure Rate

You've checked in early, made it through security, and found your gate, only to discover you'll get extra time in the airport. While a few minutes can be frustrating, a severely delayed flight can ruin an entire trip, especially if it's for a time-sensitive meeting, a quick weekend getaway, or a major life event. While Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the worst airport in the country for delays, is frequently smacked by summer thunderstorms and freak snowstorms that shut travel down, underrated Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) sits at the other end of the spectrum. According to a 2025 Cirium report, SLC ranks fourth worldwide among "top performing global airports" and has the highest on-time departure rate in the United States at 84%, even with snowy Utah winters. Whether it's snowing, icy, or a beautiful sunny day on the Wasatch Front, SLC is well equipped to get you to where you're going. And, if you're in the 16% of flights that are delayed, you'll have plenty to do while you wait at one of America's newest airport hubs.

Salt Lake City's airport terminal has been completely rebuilt since 2014 to improve both operational efficiency and the passenger experience. As part of the airport's $5.1 billion New SLC program, which will finish in 2026, the old terminal buildings were completely demolished in favor of constructing one of the easiest airports to navigate in America. SLC has two spacious concourses in a single terminal building, connected by the stunning "River Tunnel," an underground walkway. The airport's new linear design makes loading and unloading passengers and cargo, as well as taxiing, more efficient. Moreover, there's enough space to land and accommodate double-decker and wide-body aircraft, including Airbus A380 and the Boeing 747-400.

In addition to being ranked as the best airport in the U.S. for on-time departures, underrated SLC also won an award from AirHelp in 2025 for being the best-ranked airport in the United States and ranking No. 8 worldwide, with a score of 8.29 out of 10. AirHelp's metrics focused on the overall passenger experience, with on-time performance being a key component, along with passengers' opinions of the overall flying experience at the airport, including food options and customer assistance. If you're starting your journey at SLC, the airport is known for having some of the quickest TSA lines in the country, with the average wait being under 10 minutes, per Upgraded Points.

In the off chance that your flight is delayed, you'll have plenty of things to do at the airport. Both airy concourses feature a wide range of art exhibits showcasing the state's rugged beauty and artistic talent, and if you have a few minutes to sit and enjoy a meal, you'll have a variety of options. The airport has a wide mix of local restaurants and classic airport bites, including Auntie Anne's, Jamba, and P.F. Chang's. If you've got time for a beer and a bison burger, try out the airport location of Salt Lake Brewing Co.'s Squatters Pub Brewery, running for over three decades downtown, or Market Street Grill, a Salt Lake City mainstay serving gourmet steaks and seafood since 1980. For travelers in a rush or looking for more familiar options, the airport has a Burger King, California Pizza Kitchen, Panera Bread, and several Starbucks throughout. And, for special needs travelers who are overloaded by the stresses of travel, the airport completed the first of three calming sensory rooms in early 2025. 

Salt Lake City International is Delta Airlines' primary hub in the Mountain West and, at the time of writing, offers flights to and from destinations across the United States, Europe, and Asia on 14 different airlines – and soon will have seasonal flights to South America. In 2024, over 28 million passengers passed through growing Salt Lake City International. If you're using the airport, you'll likely be on Delta, which carried 70% of the passengers through the airport (per SLC data), albeit some with a short connection time. Though Delta had an on-time performance of nearly 83% last year, and much of the airport runs like clockwork, be sure to check both your arrival and departure gates and prepare yourself for a potential trek across the airport. A trip across the terminal is over half a mile and can take several minutes, even using the moving walkways. If you have any doubts about whether you'll make your connection due to mobility issues, contact your airline before you fly.

If Utah is your final destination, you'll likely be arriving on schedule, too – SLC is second in the world for on-time arrivals, behind Mexico City, at 84.78%. You likely won't have a late start to crisscross the Beehive State on an epic road trip to Utah's "Mighty 5" National Parks or fly through some of the "Greatest Snow on Earth" at one of the 10 major ski resorts that are less than an hour away from the airport.