Manchester Airport has been identified as the UK's worst for flight delays for the fourth year running, according to an analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data. Flights from the country's third busiest airport were, on average, 19-and-a-half minutes behind schedule in 2025, a slight improvement of 30 seconds from the previous year but still the longest delays among all UK airports.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said the consistent underperformance makes it difficult for passengers to book flights from Manchester with confidence. He noted that too many holidays got off to a terrible start last year, and the airport has ranked last in their survey for four consecutive years.
Birmingham Airport had the second poorest punctuality, with an average delay of 18 minutes and 42 seconds, followed by Bournemouth Airport at 17 minutes and 18 seconds. In contrast, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, less than 30 miles from Manchester, recorded the most punctual flights with an average delay of just nine minutes and 24 seconds.
The analysis considered scheduled and chartered departures from 23 UK commercial airports with at least 1,000 outbound flights in 2025, excluding cancellations. The average delay across all airports was 14 minutes and 54 seconds, down from 18 minutes and 24 seconds in 2024.
A Manchester Airport spokesperson attributed delays to factors outside their control, such as industrial action affecting air traffic control in Europe and adverse weather. They noted that airspace restrictions above conflict zones disproportionately affected airports with significant long-haul networks like Manchester.
Passengers delayed from UK airports may be entitled to assistance and compensation of up to £520 from the airline if the delay is within the airline's control. However, air traffic control issues are considered extraordinary circumstances, meaning passengers are not entitled to payouts in such cases.
