Newark Airport Ranks Third for Longest TSA Waits
A Travel Bulletin study of 50 major U.S. airports found Newark's average security wait well above the national average.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Air Travel
Live Poll
Do you think airport security lines have gotten worse for travelers in recent years?
Travel Bulletin ranked Newark Liberty International Airport third for longest average TSA wait times among the 50 busiest U.S. airports. Newark's average wait of 17.9 minutes compares with a national average of 9.9 minutes.
Why it matters
Security wait times shape how early travelers must arrive and how smoothly connections are made at a major hub. Newark's ranking places it among the slowest checkpoints in the country even as it handles heavy passenger volume.
Travel Bulletin's ranking used TSA wait-time estimates from mid-June through mid-August 2026, with Newark averaging 17.9 minutes against a 9.9-minute national average. Newark ranked eighth among the busiest airports for checkpoint traffic, processing about 3,000 passengers per hour, and the study does not address wait times outside that eight-week window.
The players
Travel Bulletin
A travel industry publication that compiled the ranking of TSA wait times at 50 major U.S. airports.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
The federal agency that screens passengers at U.S. airports and operates the MyTSA app that supplied wait-time reports for the study.
The details
The study analyzed TSA wait times and passenger-volume data from 50 of the busiest U.S. airports, using wait-time reports submitted through TSA's MyTSA app. John F. Kennedy International Airport ranked first and Chicago O'Hare International Airport ranked second, while Philadelphia International Airport placed tenth at 12.9 minutes and LaGuardia averaged 9.3 minutes.
Timeline
Mid-June 2026 to mid-August 2026: Eight weeks of TSA wait-time and passenger-volume data were collected for the study.
Thursday, August 27, 2026: Travel Bulletin published the ranking.
Travel Outlook
The ranking draws on TSA's MyTSA app, which collects traveler-submitted wait reports, to compare checkpoint performance across the country's busiest hubs. Because the data covers only summer 2026, it reflects peak-season travel conditions rather than year-round performance.
Travelers passing through Newark should build in extra time at security, since the study found average waits well above the national norm during peak summer months. Checking TSA's MyTSA app for current wait estimates before heading to the airport can help set realistic arrival times.
The takeaway
Allowing extra time at Newark during summer peaks is the most practical step for travelers. Checking current checkpoint wait estimates before leaving for the airport can prevent missed flights.
Further reading
For more on how airport security delays affect trips, see Air Travel coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Bergen County Girl.
Live Poll
Do you think airport security lines have gotten worse for travelers in recent years?
