Edinburgh Airport has been identified as one of the worst airports in the UK for July delays for the fourth consecutive year, according to an analysis by Locals Insider. The study, which examined more than 700,000 flights across UK airports using Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data from 2022 to 2025, found that 50.3% of flights departing Edinburgh in July were delayed by more than 15 minutes. This places Edinburgh third among all UK airports, behind Gatwick (57.4%) and Manchester (51.1%). Edinburgh was one of only three airports where more than half of July flights ran late.
Contrast with Other Scottish Airports
While Edinburgh's figures are concerning, other Scottish airports fared better. Glasgow Airport recorded a delay rate of 36.3% in July, 14 percentage points lower than Edinburgh, despite handling high passenger volumes. Aberdeen performed even better, with a delay rate of just 30.1%, making it the second-lowest on the list. Belfast City Airport had the best record among all 23 airports analysed, with only 29.2% of flights delayed.
Consistent Pattern Over Four Years
Martin Danemaq, a spokesperson for Locals Insider, said: “Edinburgh is Scotland's busiest airport and a major gateway for summer holidays, so a delay rate of more than half of all July flights is a notable finding for passengers in the region. The data covers four consecutive Julys, suggesting this is a consistent pattern rather than an isolated bad year. What's particularly striking is the contrast with Aberdeen and Glasgow, both of which record significantly lower delay rates during July. For passengers in Scotland with flexibility over their departure airport, the data paints a very different picture depending on which one they use.”
Recent Disruptions Due to Weather
The findings come as Edinburgh Airport experienced further delays and cancellations on Friday, June 26, after thunderstorms hit the capital. Thousands of lightning strikes were recorded by the Met Office across the central belt since early morning. According to flight tracking app FlightRadar24, Edinburgh Airport was the fifth-most disrupted airport in the world that morning.
