New data has highlighted the UK's worst-performing airports for flight delays in 2023, with London Luton Airport topping the list for the longest average waiting times. Passengers departing from Luton experienced an average delay of 29.2 minutes per flight, according to an analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data.
The findings, compiled by the PA news agency, examined scheduled and chartered flights from all UK airports. Following Luton, Gatwick Airport recorded the second-longest average delay at 27.4 minutes, while Manchester Airport flights were delayed by an average of 25.2 minutes. Heathrow Airport, the UK's busiest, saw an average delay of 24.6 minutes, placing it fourth on the list of airports with the most significant delays.
Among airlines, EasyJet flights departing from UK airports experienced some of the longest delays, averaging 31.2 minutes. TUI Airways flights were delayed by an average of 27.5 minutes, and British Airways flights faced an average delay of 23.4 minutes. These figures underscore the challenges faced by both airlines and airports in maintaining punctuality as passenger numbers continue to rebound post-pandemic.
The analysis also revealed that smaller regional airports generally performed better. For instance, Southampton Airport had the shortest average delay at 14.8 minutes, followed by Liverpool John Lennon Airport at 16.5 minutes. Belfast City Airport also showed strong performance with an average delay of 17.5 minutes. These variations suggest that airport size and operational complexity may play a role in the incidence of delays.
Industry experts suggest that a combination of factors contributes to flight delays, including air traffic control restrictions, adverse weather conditions, staffing shortages, and technical issues with aircraft. With passenger demand largely returning to pre-pandemic levels, the pressure on the aviation infrastructure remains high. This data provides a crucial snapshot for both travellers planning their journeys and for the aviation industry to identify areas for improvement.
Source: PA news agency analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data