Two Florida airports—Key West International and Miami International Airport—have been ranked among the most stressful in the United States, based on new research analyzing delays, cancellations, passenger volumes, and Google ratings.
Key West International Airport ranked 25th nationally with a stress score of 3.41 out of 10, driven by over 25 minutes average departure delays and a 3.5% cancellation rate. Despite its modest passenger volume, these performance issues make it a notable stress point for island-bound travelers.
Miami International Airport, one of the country’s busiest, placed 32nd with a 3.23 score. While cancellation rates and delay times are relatively low compared to smaller regional airports, its slightly below-average Google rating weighs on the overall score.
These findings are part of a broader analysis by Mood.com, which examined 384 U.S. airports using five equally weighted factors: passenger volume, departure delays, arrival delays, cancellation rates, and Google review ratings.
How Other Major Florida Airports Stack Up
Though Orlando, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, and Jacksonville didn’t crack the most-stressful list, other studies highlight them as some of the most traveler-friendly in the state:
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Despite being Florida’s busiest airport (handling over 57 million passengers in 2024), it did not feature on the stress-tier list—but that’s not necessarily a good thing for traveler experience.
- A separate “best airports for enjoyable experience” index ranked Orlando 6th nationwide, with a standout amenities score.
- Tampa International Airport (TPA)
- Widely praised for its traveler-centric design, Tampa topped the “most stress‑free” rankings in another study, which assessed ease of navigation, retail options, and low lost‑luggage rates.
- Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
- Earned the highest customer satisfaction rating among Florida airports in a J.D. Power study, placing second among all “large” airports nationally for traveler satisfaction.
- Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International (FLL) and Orlando (MCO) also appear in the “mega” airport category—both rated in the top 10 for overall satisfaction among mega-hubs. Orlando ranked 8th and Fort Lauderdale 9th; Miami just missed the cut, landing 11th.
Stress-Focused Rankings
Key West (25th) and Miami (32nd) flag areas where delays, cancellations, or ratings weigh heavily on many travelers’ minds.
Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale shine in traveler satisfaction and experience—whether in amenities, layout design, or customer service.
If you’re planning travel through Florida—whether headed to the bustling theme parks via Orlando or navigating a regional gateway like Tampa or Key West—knowing how each airport ranks can help you pick the stress-free route.
