Travel expert Ferdinando D'Agostino has identified the worst window for flight delays: between 4pm and 8pm. According to D'Agostino, from airport transfer company Transfeero, delays accumulate throughout the day, making early morning flights the most reliable. 'For any day of the week, the earlier the flight, the easier it will be,' he said, noting that early departures are less likely to be affected by issues from previous flights.
The day of the week also plays a significant role. In Europe, Friday is the busiest day as holidaymakers take afternoon and evening departures to maximise their trips, overlapping with business travellers flying home. Sundays are similarly busy with return travellers, especially in city-break destinations like Rome. In the US, Thursday joins Friday and Sunday as a peak travel day, partly due to UK travellers booking Thursday evening flights to New York to get a head start on long weekends.
For those seeking quieter travel, Tuesday and Wednesday are the best options. Midweek demand drops, airports are less crowded, and airlines have had time to recover from weekend disruptions. Mondays and Saturdays see morning crowds, but evenings can be calmer. D'Agostino advises flying early in the day and avoiding the 4pm–8pm window to minimise the risk of delays.
