IAH Falls in New Stress-Free Airport Ranking

Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) has been identified as one of the more stressful airports for travelers during the peak holiday season, according to a recent study. The research highlights several factors that contribute to traveler stress, including long security wait times, flight delays, and high cancellation rates.

The study, conducted by European tour company Travel by Luxe, evaluated 30 major airports across key stress-inducing factors such as security wait times, flight delays, cancellation rates, passenger traffic, and average airfare prices. Based on these metrics, the airports were ranked to determine which ones are best equipped to keep travelers calm rather than overwhelmed.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona was named the top stress-free U.S. airport for holiday travel. In contrast, George Bush Intercontinental Airport was ranked 27th among American airports in terms of stress levels. The report cited longer security wait times and a higher number of flight cancellations compared to other major U.S. airports.

Passenger traffic data from December 2024 showed that over 2.1 million travelers passed through IAH during the holidays last year. Nearly a quarter of all flights were delayed, and IAH had the fourth-highest rate of canceled flights at 1.18 percent. While the average airfare at IAH was $419.19 in the final quarter of 2024—making it the 11th most expensive among the 30 airports studied—the report noted that flight fares are not the primary source of stress. Instead, flight delays and long security lines were identified as the main contributors to traveler anxiety.

Travelers departing from Houston should plan extra time to navigate Transportation Security Administration (TSA) lines, especially during peak travel periods. According to the latest available data from December 2023, the average wait time at IAH security checkpoints was about 22 minutes, which is the fourth-longest wait time nationwide.

The report’s author emphasized that the 2025 holiday travel season is expected to be one of the busiest on record, urging travelers to choose their airports carefully. With nearly 4.6 million travelers expected to pass through IAH during the final two months of the year, the pressure on airport systems is anticipated to increase.

"Holiday travel is supposed to be joyful," the author wrote. "Think of all the twinkling lights, family reunions, and much-needed downtime. But anyone who has battled chaotic airport lines, last-minute cancellations, or a departure board full of red delay warnings knows how quickly that festive spirit can evaporate."

In Texas, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport ranked ninth among the most stress-free U.S. airports, while Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport was ranked the worst in the study, placing at the bottom of the list at No. 30.

The top 10 U.S. airports with the smoothest travel during the 2025 holiday season are:

• No. 1 – Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
• No. 2 – Salt Lake City International Airport
• No. 3 – Washington Dulles International Airport
• No. 4 – Tampa International Airport
• No. 5 – Harry Reid International Airport
• No. 6 – Chicago Midway International Airport
• No. 7 – Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
• No. 8 – Philadelphia International Airport
• No. 9 – Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
• No. 10 – LaGuardia Airport