Airlines with the Worst Flight Delays in the UK Revealed
Airlines operating in the UK have struggled with delays in 2024, with Air India topping the list with an average delay of 45 minutes and 48 seconds. This is according to analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data by the PA news agency. The route with the longest average delay was Gatwick to Bangalore, with a delay of one hour and 23 minutes across 50 departures.
Air India's performance has been described as "completely unacceptable" by Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which Travel. The airline has blamed factors beyond its control for the delays, but has also cited proactive operational initiatives that have improved on-time departures.
Guernsey-based Aurigny Air Services came second in the ranking, with an average delay of 31 minutes and 12 seconds. The airline with the best performance was Emerald Airlines, which recorded an average delay of just 10 minutes and 30 seconds.
Key Takeaways:
- Air India was the worst-performing airline in the UK in 2024, with an average delay of 45 minutes and 48 seconds.
- The route with the longest average delay was Gatwick to Bangalore, with a delay of one hour and 23 minutes across 50 departures.
- Aurigny Air Services was the second-worst performing airline, with an average delay of 31 minutes and 12 seconds.
- Emerald Airlines had the best on-time performance, with an average delay of just 10 minutes and 30 seconds.
- The average delay for all airlines was 18 minutes and 18 seconds, down from 20 minutes and 42 seconds in 2023.
- Rory Boland, editor of Which Travel, described Air India's performance as "completely unacceptable" and called for airlines to improve their services.
Statistics:
- Air India: 45 minutes and 48 seconds average delay in 2024
- Aurigny Air Services: 31 minutes and 12 seconds average delay in 2024
- Emerald Airlines: 10 minutes and 30 seconds average delay in 2024
- Average delay for all airlines in 2024: 18 minutes and 18 seconds
- Average delay for all airlines in 2023: 20 minutes and 42 seconds
- Total number of scheduled and chartered departures from UK airports by airlines operating over 2,500 flights in 2023: Not specified
Sources:
- PA news agency, analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data
- Which Travel, consumer magazine