Full record of common flight delays at each UK airport

The time distinction between the very best and worst airport for flight delays is a staggering 10 minutes and 6 seconds.

Landing passenger plane during sunset.

The distinction between the very best and worst airport for flight delays is over 10 minutes (Picture: Getty)

It’s each passenger’s worst nightmare – arriving on the airport full of pleasure for a long-awaited journey, solely to search out that the journey is already off to a irritating begin. Lengthy queues, disrupted schedules and the uncertainty of when a flight will really depart have develop into acquainted experiences for a lot of travellers utilizing UK airports.

Now, a brand new evaluation of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) information by the Press Affiliation has taken a more in-depth take a look at how totally different airports are performing in protecting flights on time. The findings come at a time when hundreds of thousands of passengers are as soon as once more getting ready for peak journey intervals. The analysis covers scheduled and chartered departures throughout 23 of the UK’s busiest industrial airports, providing an in depth snapshot of punctuality tendencies over the previous 12 months. Whereas the general image suggests some enchancment in common delay occasions in contrast with 2025, passenger expertise varies considerably relying on the place they fly from.

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Manchester airport.

Manchester Airport had a mean delay per departing flight of 19 minutes and 30 seconds (Picture: Getty)

On the backside finish of the rankings, Manchester Airport – the UK’s third-busiest airport – recorded the longest common delays, with departures in 2025 leaving round 19 minutes and 30 seconds delayed. Birmingham Airport adopted intently behind, with common delays of 18 minutes and 42 seconds, highlighting comparable pressures at two of the nation’s main transport hubs.

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On the different finish of the size, Liverpool John Lennon Airport got here out as essentially the most punctual, with common delays of simply 9 minutes and 24 seconds. Regardless of being a lot smaller than close by Manchester, it delivered noticeably smoother departure occasions throughout the 12 months.

A spokesperson for Manchester Airport stated: “Punctuality is affected by components which are exterior of an airport’s management. The 2 most important components contributing to delays within the final 12 months have been industrial motion affecting air site visitors management in Europe, and the climate.

“These had been exacerbated by airspace restrictions above battle zones that means airports with important long-haul networks, like Manchester, had been extra considerably affected than others.

“As an business we’re working collectively to attain the very best on-time departure charges, whereas defending flight schedules and avoiding the necessity for cancellations.”

A Birmingham Airport spokesperson stated: “Flight delays can occur for a number of causes together with industrial motion and dangerous climate, a few of that are out of an airport’s management. Final month over half of all plane left on time and we proceed to work arduous to enhance punctuality. Our colleagues work tirelessly to supply sensible passenger service, with the overwhelming majority of individuals ranking their expertise as wonderful.”

Liverpool John Lennon Airport