Flight delays are an inevitable part of travel; however, some airports are more prone to disruption than others.
Gatwick Airport continues to hold the title of the UK’s worst for flight delays, with departures averaging more than 23 minutes behind schedule in 2024.
Gatwick, the UK’s second busiest airport, receives more than 40 million passengers and serves almost 60 airlines, including British Airways, Jet2, easyJet, Ryanair and TUI – meaning potential chaos for many.
This comes as the London airport faces Easter holiday mayhem, with strike action impacting thousands.
Gatwick Airport continues to hold the title of the UK’s worst for flight delays
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A Gatwick spokesperson said air traffic control restrictions in 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,” they added.
It’s not all bad news, though, as the 23-minute delay time represents an improvement from nearly 27 minutes during the previous year.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said in February that she would support Gatwick’s expansion plan to improve resilience if the project is adjusted. The airport has until April 24 to respond.
A spokesperson for AirportsUK said it was “positive that the data shows delays continue to come down” as aviation recovers from the pandemic.
After Gatwick, Birmingham Airport recorded the second poorest punctuality, with average delays exceeding 21 minutes. Manchester Airport followed closely in third place, with flights delayed by 20 minutes.
Belfast City (George Best) airport recorded the best punctuality performance in the UK for the second consecutive year, with typical delays of less than 12 minutes.
Longest average delay per departing flight to the shortest
1. Gatwick (23 minutes and 18 seconds)
2. Birmingham (21 minutes and 18 seconds)
3. Manchester (20 minutes)
4. Stansted (19 minutes and 36 seconds)
5. Teesside (19 minutes and six seconds)
6. Exeter (19 minutes)
7. Edinburgh (18 minutes and six seconds)
8. Bournemouth (17 minutes and 48 seconds)
9. Luton (17 minutes and 42 seconds)
10. Cardiff, Wales (17 minutes and 36 seconds)
=11. Heathrow (17 minutes and 24 seconds)
=11. Newcastle (17 minutes and 24 seconds)
13. Bristol (17 minutes and six seconds)
14. Southampton (16 minutes and 24 seconds)
15. Leeds Bradford (16 minutes)
16. Glasgow (15 minutes and 12 seconds)
17. London City (15 minutes and six seconds)
18. Belfast International (14 minutes and 42 seconds)
19. Aberdeen (13 minutes and 18 seconds)
20. Liverpool (John Lennon) (12 minutes and 42 seconds)
21. East Midlands International (12 minutes and 30 seconds)
22. Belfast City (George Best) (11 minutes and 36 seconds)
As well as their obvious inconvenience, flight delays can have an “emotional toll”, said Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership.
This is because holidaymakers who “save all year” for trips feel “their time and investment aren’t being respected”.
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Almost 60 airlines fly from London Gatwick Airport
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“Passengers expect and deserve not to spend hours stuck in terminals with little information or support,” she added.
Depending on the delay, passengers are entitled to food, drink, communication means and overnight accommodation if required.
Airlines must provide this assistance, though they often struggle during major disruptions.
Passengers may also claim compensation of up to £520 for delays within airline control, such as aircraft faults or pilot sickness.
Air traffic control issues are considered “extraordinary circumstances” and don’t qualify for compensation.
