Gatwick ranked ‘worst for delays’ for second year 

Gatwick has been ranked as the worst UK airport for flight delays for a second year in succession.

 

Flights departed on average more than 23 minutes late from the country’s second-busiest airport, according to analysis of Civil Aviation Authority data.

 

Gatwick’s 2024 average delay was an improvement from the nearly 27 minutes in the previous 12 months as the airport’s air traffic control services provider Nats tackled staff shortages that had affected flights.

 

Birmingham airport had the second worst record with average flight delays of 21 minutes, followed by Manchester at 20 minutes. Heathrow saw a 17 minute delay to departures, while the best performer with an 11 minute delay was Belfast City airport, according to analysis by the PA Media news agency.

 

While airlines and airports across Europe have suffered disruption from ATC issues, Nats staff shortages also directly affected Gatwick’s outsourced control tower.

 

However, a Gatwick spokesperson said that the tower staffing issues were fully resolved.

 

The airport has also avoided threatened disruption over the busy Easter weekend, with a strike by ground-handlers in the Unite union having “no operational impact” and causing no cancellations or significant delays, the spokesperson said.

 

The spokesperson added: “Air traffic control restrictions in other parts of Europe have continued to impact the airport.

 

“With our airlines, we’ve put in place a robust plan … to improve on-time performance further in 2025.”

 

PA’s analysis included scheduled and chartered departures from the 22 commercial UK airports with at least 1,000 departures in 2024. 

 

Overall UK flight delays improved last year on average, cutting about 10% from the wait last year, at 18 minutes and 24 seconds compared with 20 minutes and 42 seconds in 2023.

 

Selina Chadha, a director at the CAA, said: “The industry works hard to ensure flights are punctual, but sometimes delays occur.

 

“What is important to us is what airlines and airports do to minimise disruption, as well as comply with their legal obligations to look after passengers if something happens to their flight.”

 

A spokesperson for AirportsUK said: “Aviation continues to recover from the pandemic, and operates in an extremely busy, global environment with resilience challenges.

 

“It is therefore positive that the data shows delays continue to come down as everyone in aviation works together to provide the best possible service to passengers.”

 

Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said told the Telegraph: “This summer is expected to be exceptionally busy, and therefore it is essential airports and airlines do all the can to ensure consumer confidence in travel remains high.”

 

Which? consumer expert Lisa Webb said: “Your choice of airport shouldn’t make or break your trip, but sadly for too many travellers that is often their experience.

 

“Airports need to ensure they are properly prepared to handle higher volumes of passengers at key travel periods, such as summer holidays.

 

“With at least some level of disruption probable as we head into another busy travel season, airports’ delay records are something some travellers may well want to take into consideration, even if that involves travelling slightly further from home.”