Flight cancellations hit 4-year high: Here are the worst airports and our tips for flying

If you found yourself stuck at an airport or stranded overnight this summer, you're not alone.So far, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the worst years for flight cancellations in the past several years.This summer, the number of canceled flights on U.S. carriers surged by about 15% over last year, according to data from FlightAware.And the problems didn't stop as Americans returned to work and school.SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYEarlier this week, airlines had to shutter more than 1,000 departures as an air traffic control equipment outage snarled operations on the East Coast.Things were pretty much back on track a day later, but for passengers, it was just the latest snafu in a year that has brought plenty of them.Worst year for flight cancellations since 2022Since Jan. 1, U.S. carriers have canceled roughly 2% of all flights, per FlightAware.That puts 2026 on pace to see the highest rate of cancellations since 2022 — a forgettable year right after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when staffing and operational woes fueled one airline meltdown after another.THE POINTS GUYThere's no single problem behind this year's disruptions.Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletterJoin over ...