Manchester Airport has been ranked as Britain's most delay-plagued airport for the fourth consecutive year, according to new data from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The airport, the UK's third busiest, recorded an average departure delay of 19 minutes and 30 seconds in the latest figures, placing it last among 23 commercial airports. This was only 30 seconds better than the previous year.
Which? Travel editor Rory Boland criticised the airport's performance, stating: 'Manchester Airport has ranked last in our airport survey for four consecutive years and these new CAA figures validate why this is a particularly poor place to be stranded during delays. For passengers already wary of travel uncertainty, seeing such consistent underperformance makes it difficult to book with any real confidence.'
Birmingham Airport came second from bottom with an average delay of 18 minutes and 42 seconds, followed by Bournemouth at 17 minutes and 18 seconds. In contrast, Liverpool John Lennon Airport topped the punctuality rankings with an average delay of just nine minutes and 24 seconds. The industry-wide average delay improved to 14 minutes and 54 seconds, down from 18 minutes and 24 seconds the previous year.
A Manchester Airport spokesman defended the performance, attributing delays to factors outside its control, including industrial action affecting European air traffic control and adverse weather. He said: 'These were exacerbated by airspace restrictions above conflict zones, meaning airports with significant long-haul networks, like Manchester, were more significantly affected than others.' The airport recently completed a £1.3 billion overhaul, including a revamped Terminal 2, though Terminal 3 works continue.
CAA consumer chief Anna Bowles urged airports and airlines to focus on delivering punctual journeys, warning that delays can have a 'real impact for people heading off on holidays.' Passengers facing serious delays may be entitled to food, drink, accommodation, and up to £520 in compensation if the cause is within the airline's remit, such as staff shortages or mechanical problems. Delays due to air traffic control failures are considered extraordinary circumstances, with no automatic right to payout.
