By Jason Hidalgo, Reno Gazette Journal
An airport once known among locals for its “Reno dash” just got named among the least stressful airports in the country.
Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) ranked No. 5 in a study that compared 55 major US airports by stress level.
The airport was one of two Nevada airports to rank high on the list for least stressful airports. Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) was at No. 10.
The study, which was commissioned by online reservation platform Rightway Parking, used Bureau of Transportation Statistics data to look at several metrics, including flight delays, flight cancellations and travel time from downtown.
The metrics were then combined to come up with an overall “stress score” for travelers. According to the analysis, the worst airports typically tend to be repeat offenders across the board for stress-inducing situations.
“The most stressful airports rarely perform poorly in just one area,” the study found. “Travelers are more likely to face multiple frustrations, from getting to the airport to waiting out a delayed or canceled flight.”
Unsurprisingly, the most stressful airports are not only in large metro areas but also serve as major connecting hubs for many airlines.
The most stressful airport in the country, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), has a delay rate of nearly 28%—the highest among all airports in the list. DFW is also the largest global hub for American Airlines.
The second most stressful airport, O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago, was only 16 miles from downtown but requires an average of 50 minutes to get there. ORD serves as a dual hub for American Airlines and also the main hub for United Airlines.
Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), which is No. 3 for airport-induced stress, has the highest rate of flight cancellations in the country at 3.86%.
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Here are the top 10 most stressful airports, according to the study:
- Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
- O’Hare International (ORD)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
- John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
- Philadelphia International (PHL)
- LaGuardia (LGA)
- Denver International (DEN)
- Detroit Metropolitan (DTW)
- Washington Dulles International (IAD)
- Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
In contrast, the least stressful airports had fewer cancellations — less than 1% for the top four. They also had relatively short trips from downtown and lower delay rates.
Here are the top 10 least stressful U.S. airports, according to the study:
- Salt Lake City International (SLC)
- San Jose International (SJC)
- Daniel K. Inouye International, Honolulu (HNL)
- Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
- Reno-Tahoe International (RNO)
- Oakland International (OAK)
- Omaha Eppley Airfield (OMA)
- Portland International (PDX)
- San Antonio International (SAT)
- Harry Reid International, Las Vegas (LAS)
Reno-Tahoe International Airport is currently in the midst of a billion-dollar modernization and expansion plan called MoreRNO. The project was deemed necessary to not just upgrade outdated infrastructure but also deal with the impact of growth, including long lines and overflowing parking lots during busy seasons.
Prior to its growth, the airport was so quick to get through that people could arrive 20 minutes before their flight, park their vehicle, walk to their gate and still make it—a phenomenon that earned the moniker, the “Reno dash.”
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
