Air India has been ranked the worst airline for flight delays for the second consecutive year, with an average delay of 36 minutes and 36 seconds per departure from UK airports in 2025, according to an analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data. Tui Airways, one of the worst offenders among UK carriers, averaged 20 minutes and 24 seconds, with its Birmingham-to-Zante route seeing an average delay of 46 minutes.
Compensation Rights and Passenger Care
Passengers facing significant delays may be entitled to free food, drinks, and hotel accommodation. For flights under 1,500km, delays of at least two hours trigger care rights; for flights between 1,500km and 3,500km, three hours; and for flights over 3,500km, four hours. Compensation of up to £520 per passenger may also be claimed if the delay is within the airline's control, depending on delay duration and flight length.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, urged passengers: “Airlines must do more to support travellers during delays, including clearly communicating their rights and eligibility for compensation. It’s worth putting in a claim with your airline if you think it’s responsible – and escalating the complaint if it refuses to pay.”
Industry Response and Operational Improvements
Aage Dunhaupt, Tui Group’s director of communications, stated: “We fully understand that for holidaymakers, every minute counts. Minimising delays remains a top priority, and our teams work continuously to improve operational performance across our network.” CAA director Tim Johnson added: “We recognise the impact this can have, which is why there are rules in place to protect passengers. Airlines are expected to minimise the impact of delays where possible, by providing timely information and upholding passengers’ rights during disruption.”
A spokesperson for Airlines UK, representing UK-registered carriers, noted: “The vast majority of UK airline flights depart on time and CAA data shows customer satisfaction levels are at an all-time high. Most delays are the result of issues that are entirely outside airline control, such as adverse weather, forced reductions in the number of planes that are able to land and take off each hour, and industrial action. When these delays do occur, airlines work hard to support customers and get them where they need to be as quickly as possible.”
Full List of Worst Airlines for Flight Delays (2025)
The analysis covered scheduled and chartered departures from UK airports by airlines operating more than 2,500 flights last year. The average delay across all airlines was 14 minutes and 48 seconds, down from 18 minutes and 18 seconds in 2024. The list below orders airlines from longest to shortest average delay per departing flight:
- Air India: 36 minutes 36 seconds
- Blue Islands: 25 minutes 12 seconds
- TAP Air Portugal: 23 minutes
- Saudia: 21 minutes 18 seconds
- Tui Airways: 20 minutes 24 seconds
- SunExpress: 20 minutes 12 seconds
- Aurigny: 19 minutes 36 seconds
- Pegasus Airlines: 18 minutes 36 seconds
- Swiss: 17 minutes 54 seconds
- KLM: 17 minutes 48 seconds
- Air France: 17 minutes
- Vueling: 16 minutes 54 seconds
- Jet2.com: 16 minutes 36 seconds
- Wizz Air: 16 minutes 12 seconds
- Ryanair: 15 minutes 48 seconds
- Aer Lingus: 15 minutes 30 seconds
- Qatar: 14 minutes 54 seconds
- American Airlines: 14 minutes 42 seconds
- Eurowings: 14 minutes 36 seconds
- Delta Airlines: 14 minutes 36 seconds
- Emerald Airlines: 13 minutes 54 seconds
- United Airlines: 13 minutes 54 seconds
- EasyJet: 13 minutes 48 seconds
- Turkish Airlines: 13 minutes 24 seconds
- Lufthansa: 13 minutes 12 seconds
- Emirates: 13 minutes 6 seconds
- British Airways: 12 minutes 36 seconds
- Finnair: 12 minutes 18 seconds
- Loganair: 12 minutes 18 seconds
- Norwegian: 11 minutes 48 seconds
- Iberia: 11 minutes 36 seconds
- Air Canada: 11 minutes 36 seconds
- Virgin Atlantic: 11 minutes
- Scandinavian Airlines: 8 minutes
Best Performers and Overall Trends
Scandinavian Airlines achieved the best punctuality, with an average delay of just eight minutes, followed by Virgin Atlantic at 11 minutes. The overall improvement from 2024 to 2025 reflects industry efforts to reduce delays, though consumer advocates stress that airlines must continue to uphold passenger rights during disruptions.
