Wizz Air has announced that it will be closing its Abu Dhabi operations from September this year, leaving some of their employees in limbo. However, jobseekers in the aviation industry can find fresh opportunities with UAE-based airlines as they have openings across multiple departments. Airlines like Emirates, Etihad, Flydubai and Air Arabia have posted openings on their official websites — from cabin crew to pilots, engineers, and support staff.

Emirates’ recruitment events

Dubai’s flagship carrier Emirates is holding weekly invite-only recruitment events in the city. “Our events are held weekly in Dubai, please apply to be invited,” reads a note on their careers page.

Interested candidates must first fill out an application online to get selected for the in-person recruitment drive.

Some of the roles currently listed include:

The airline also has a few pilot vacancies listed.

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Emirates cabin crew receive a tax-free monthly salary comprising a basic pay of around Dh4,430 and flying pay of approximately Dh63.75 per hour, based on 80 to 100 flying hours per month. This brings the average total monthly income to about Dh10,000 to Dh12,000. Crew members are provided with free, fully furnished shared accommodation in Dubai, with all utilities and transportation to and from work covered by the airline.

Additionally, Emirates recently announced a bonus for its employees, awarding them a payout equivalent to 22 weeks of salary. This bonus comes in recognition of the airline’s record profits for the financial year ending March 31, 2025, and reflects the company’s commitment to rewarding its workforce for their dedication and contribution to its success.

Etihad

In Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways is also hiring for 70 different vacancies, according to their official website. Open roles on their website include:

• Cabin Crew

• Pilots

• Captain positions

• Sales Officers

The airline is seeking candidates for various positions. The salaries aren’t listed, and a few positions offer benefits, including accommodation, transport, and medical coverage.

Etihad pilots enjoy a competitive, tax-free salary along with performance-based profit sharing, providing both financial stability and long-term security. They are entitled to a world-class provident fund and retirement benefits that support them beyond their flying years. Comprehensive medical, dental, and life insurance coverage is also provided, ensuring peace of mind for pilots and their families throughout their careers.

Flydubai

Low-cost carrier Flydubai has multiple vacancies open, though the exact number of openings is not mentioned on their official website. The airline is asking candidates to apply online through its official careers portal.

Air Arabia

Sharjah-based Air Arabia is also actively recruiting. Their careers page shows roles available in:

• Cabin Crew

• Pilots

• Ground Operations

• Engineering

Air Arabia is offering opportunities in both UAE and international operations.

According to the latest data from the US Bureau of Transportation Studies (BTS), 21.9% of the 7.5 million flights on US-based airlines in 2024 were delayed. A flight is classified as delayed if it departs more than 15 minutes after its scheduled departure time. In addition to causing significant operational disruptions, delays and cancellations can severely impact the passenger experience and reduce journey satisfaction.

In this article, we will use data from the US Bureau of Transportation Studies, published by AirAdvisor, to analyze the US airports and airlines that experience the most disruption due to delays and cancellations. We will also take a broader look at disruption across the US and examine the reasons behind it.

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)

37% delayed

According to the data published by the US Bureau of Transportation Studies, the US airport that experienced the most delays in 2024 was Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), with 37% of its flights departing more than 15 minutes behind schedule.

Chicago Midway International Airport processed more than 21 million passengers in 2024, making the airport one of the busiest in the region. This heavy flow of passenger traffic could have been one of the contributing factors to the above-average incidence of delays. The airport dates back to 1927, and several modernization projects have helped to bring its outdated infrastructure up to standard. However, such construction work inevitably increases the risk of disruption around the airport and on the airfield.

The facility is a major hub for Southwest Airlines, with the low-cost carrier commanding a 91% market share, significantly ahead of second-placed Frontier Airlines with 6%. Meanwhile, Chicago’s primary international airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), performed slightly better in the delay statistics, with around 27% of its flights departing late last year. Chicago O’Hare International Airport is recognized as one of the best-connected airports in the world, with direct links to more than 240 destinations worldwide. The airport’s busiest international routes last year were:

1. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) – 1,008,000 passengers
2. Cancún International Airport (CUN) – 862,000 passengers
3. Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) – 704,000 passengers
4. Mexico City International Airport (MEX) – 667,000 passengers
5. Frankfurt Airport (FRA) – 586,000 passengers.

Orlando International Airport (MCO)

33% delayed

The US airport that experienced the second-highest proportion of delays over 15 minutes in 2024 was Orlando International Airport (MCO), with 33% of flights departing late. Located in Florida and acting as the gateway to the immensely popular tourist hotspot of Orlando, the airport sees an exceptionally high proportion of tourist traffic. This occurs particularly during peak periods, such as Spring Break and over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Such peaks can overwhelm airport facilities and infrastructure.

In order to make flight operations at Orlando International Airport more resilient, the facility is currently undergoing extensive renovations. Plans are currently in place to build an additional terminal at the current airport site, which will be known as Terminal D. Once completed, the airport’s capacity will increase to a staggering 100 million passengers.

Orlando International Airport’s location in Florida makes it prone to inclement weather, particularly during hurricane season, when strong winds and rain can disrupt the airport’s flight operations, leading to delays and cancellations.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

32% delayed

Just like its fellow Florida airport further north, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is also affected by the region’s sometimes unpredictable climate. In 2024, 32% of all flights departing the airport were delayed by at least 15 minutes, making it the third-worst affected airport in the country by delays.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is the third-busiest airport in Florida, after Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Miami International Airport (MIA). With a 27% market share at the airport, ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines is most likely to be most affected by the high probability of delays. JetBlue is the second-largest airline at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, with a market share of 19%, followed by Southwest Airlines (15%) and Delta Air Lines (14%).

Last year, the busiest routes from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport were:

1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) – 1,257,000 passengers
2. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) – 784,000 passengers
3. LaGuardia Airport (LGA) – 728,000 passengers
4. New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) – 578,000 passengers
5. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) – 558,000 passengers.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

31% delayed

The fourth most affected airport by delays and cancellations in the US last year was Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), where 31% of departing flights were delayed by at least 15 minutes. One of the primary causal factors of this phenomenon at the Texas airport is the airport’s sheer size, which somewhat complicates navigating the facility for both aircraft and passengers. The region is also prone to severe weather events, which, as we have already noted, can significantly disrupt airport operations.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is one of American Airlines’ largest hubs, with the oneworld carrier commanding a 66% market share. The airport’s busiest international route last year was Cancún International Airport (CUN) in Mexico, while its busiest domestic routes are listed below:

1. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – 1,131,000 passengers
2. Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) – 980,000 passengers
3. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) – 968,000 passengers
4. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) – 936,000 passengers
5. Denver International Airport (DEN) – 911,000 passengers.

Denver International Airport (DEN)

31% delayed

Denver International Airport (DEN) is the US airport with the fifth-highest proportion of delays, with 31% of departing flights leaving more than 15 minutes behind schedule. The Colorado airport is often hit by severe snowstorms in the winter, which can bring flight operations to a standstill. Although the airport is accustomed to such events and is well-equipped to handle them as best as possible, they still have a significant adverse effect on flight operations.

As the largest airport in the Western Hemisphere by land area, Denver International Airport presents its own challenges for carriers flying to and from the facility. The sheer size of the airport is difficult to appreciate from ground level, but it can add minutes (and sometimes longer) to schedules that are already tightly packed.

Denver International Airport is one of the country’s largest airports and serves as a major hub for United Airlines. The Star Alliance carrier boasts a 47% market share, ahead of Southwest Airlines (31%) and Frontier Airlines (10%). The five busiest international routes from Denver International Airport in 2024 were:

1. Cancún International Airport (CUN) – 617,000 passengers
2. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) – 421,000 passengers
3. Vancouver International Airport (YVR) – 413,000 passengers
4. Frankfurt Airport (FRA) – 337,000 passengers
5. Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) – 322,000 passengers.

What Is Causing The Increase In Disruption?

Several factors have led to an increase in delays and cancellations across US airports in recent years. Firstly, passenger numbers have significantly increased, aided by a post-pandemic boom in both domestic and international air travel. With more flights, more aircraft, and more passengers using the country’s air infrastructure, there is more room for something to go wrong. Flight schedules are often so tightly packed that even a small delay in the morning can have a snowball effect throughout the day.

Since the pandemic, the aviation industry country-wide has struggled to recruit and train the number of staff required to ensure a smooth and efficient operation. This has affected all parts of the industry, from pilots to air traffic controllers. The situation has improved somewhat since the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, but shortages are still a problem, leading to operational disruptions, and, at times, delays and cancellations.

Lastly, as we have seen, airport operations can be greatly affected by inclement weather conditions. As climate change brings more severe weather events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and snowstorms, we can only expect the resulting operational disruptions to increase as well. Future advances in technology may help better predict and manage such events, but will ultimately not stop them from occurring.

Some Airlines Are More Affected Than Others

When it comes to which airlines are most impacted, this is largely determined by the presence of each carrier at the affected airports. For example, American Airlines has one of its largest hubs at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), and it therefore stands to reason that the oneworld carrier is proportionally more affected than other carriers at the airport. The same could be said for Southwest Airlines at Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW).

The US airports that experienced the highest proportion of disruption due to delays and cancellations in 2024, according to statistics from the US Bureau of Transportation Studies, are outlined in the table below:

Sunday, July 20, 2025