UK airlines cut the number of delayed flights by nearly 4.5% this summer, according to figures from flight compensation specialist EUclaim.
The four-year decline in delays is partly due to the EU Regulation 26/2004 over flight delay compensation, the firm claims.
The best improvement in performance was from Thomas Cook Airlines, which cut not only the number of delays but also those that were claimable by some 40%.
The only UK airlines not to improve their timekeeping were Jet2 and Virgin Atlantic which increased “claimable delays” by 4.22% and 18.03% respectively, according to the figures.
A claimable delay is one that is delayed by over three hours and not subject to ‘force majeure’.
EUclaim UK manager, Adeline Noorderhaven, said: “The airlines don’t want to be paying compensation and that along with the highly publicised court cases earlier this year has helped to ensure that they have become more reliable.
“We’re happy that standards for passengers are improving but we’re ready to take on airlines should they fail their customers.”
The figures emerged ahead of a likely Supreme Court ruling on appeals by Jet2 and Thomson Airways in two separate landmark flight delay cases.
The Court of Appeal found in consumers’ favour in both cases in May, potentially opening up billions of pounds in compensation for air passengers.
Both Jet2 and Thomson since applied to the Supreme Court for permission to appeal the decisions, leaving thousands of compensation claims on hold.
The court is due to announce its decision by early November, according to law firm Bott & Co which is representing the passengers involved in each case.