Gatwick Airport worst in UK for flight delays for second 12 months | EUROtoday

Gatwick has retained its place because the UK’s worst airport for flight delays, because it continues to endure from air visitors management (ATC) disruption, knowledge exhibits.

Departures from the West Sussex airport have been a mean of greater than 23 minutes not on time in 2024, in line with evaluation of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) knowledge.

This is an enchancment from practically 27 minutes in the course of the earlier 12 months however remains to be longer than at another UK airport.

A Gatwick Airport spokesperson stated: “Air traffic control restrictions in other parts of Europe have continued to impact the airport. Together with our airlines, we’ve put in place a robust plan… to improve on-time performance further in 2025.”

Gatwick, which is the UK’s second busiest airport, was badly affected by ATC workers shortages throughout continental Europe in 2024, and suffered the identical downside in its personal management tower.

Flights from Birmingham Airport had the second poorest punctuality document final 12 months, with a mean delay of greater than 21 minutes.

In third place was Manchester Airport, with 20 minutes.

Belfast City Airport recorded the very best punctuality efficiency within the UK for the second 12 months in a row, with a mean delay per flight of underneath 12 minutes.

Depending on the gap of the route and size of delay, passengers booked on flights from UK airports that are working not on time could also be entitled to compensation.

However, ATC points are thought-about to be an “extraordinary circumstance”, that means affected passengers will not be entitled to compensation.

The Gatwick spokesperson says the airport is “the world’s most efficient single-runway airport, with flights departing or arriving every 55 seconds”.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated in February she was ready to help Gatwick’s enlargement plan to convey its emergency runway into routine use, if the challenge is adjusted.

The airport has till Thursday to reply.

A Manchester Airport spokesperson says it’s “committed to doing everything in our power to support all our carriers to achieve the best possible on-time departure rates.”

Additional reporting by PA Media.