Flights from Luton Airport faced the longest delays of any UK airport last year, according to an analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data. Planes departed an average of 19.7 minutes late, placing Luton at the bottom of the punctuality rankings.
Gatwick, Jersey, and Durham Tees Valley also performed poorly, while Heathrow recorded an average delay of just 11 minutes, making it one of the best performers alongside Leeds Bradford, Belfast City, and London City.
The study, compiled by the Press Association, examined scheduled and charter flights from the 25 busiest airports, excluding cancelled services. Across all airports, flights left an average of 15 minutes late.
A CAA spokesperson said the data enables passengers to “make informed choices about which airports they fly from.” However, the Airport Operators Association blamed “outdated” airspace infrastructure for limiting efficiency, adding that airports are working with air traffic service providers and the government to deliver necessary changes.
Luton Airport attributed delays to factors outside its control, including air traffic control strikes, late arriving aircraft, bad weather, and congested airspace. Gatwick said it was using new technology to predict and recover from late running flights to improve punctuality.
