| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 23/04/01 |
| Author: | Page Number: 2 |
| Copyright: Other |
Unpunctual: only 69% of scheduled flights were on time between October and December last year
Luton defends record as average delays rise
AVERAGE delays of scheduled flights at UK airports rose in the final three months of last year, with Luton Airport coming out worst, according to figures from the Civil Aviation Authority.
The latest statistics show the number of on-time scheduled flights – defined as early to 16 minutes late – for October to December 2000 fell to 69% from the 72% average for the whole of the previous year.
The increase in delays for scheduled flights follows a drastic decline in punctuality for charter carriers, with average delays of 37 minutes (Travel Weekly March 2).
The latest scheduled figures show an average rise in delays of four minutes to 16 minutes, against the same period in 1999.
Luton Airport fared the worst for average delays and the number of on-time scheduled flights in the final quarter of last year. Delays at Luton averaged 27 minutes, more than double the figure for the same period the previous year, and nine minutes worse than Heathrow’s average delay of 18 minutes. Its punctuality record stood at 58%, compared with 73% in 1999.
A Luton Airport spokeswoman said: “Some factors are outside the airport’s jurisdiction. Weather, technical and traffic control problems can all play a part. Within that period we did have one day when the runway was closed due to snow, but that was only one day in the whole quarter,” she said.