TUI Airways, a holiday airline popular with British travelers, has been ranked among the worst for punctuality in the UK, according to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data. The airline averaged delays of 20 minutes and 24 seconds per flight in the past year, placing it fifth on the list of least punctual airlines operating in the UK.
Worst Route: Birmingham to Zante
The Birmingham to Zante route was the least punctual for TUI Airways, with an average delay of 46 minutes. Zante, a Greek island known for its nightlife, is a popular destination for package holidaymakers. TUI Airways operates from more than 20 UK airports and is part of the TUI Group.
Industry Context and Comparisons
Overall, average delays across UK airlines have decreased from 18 minutes and 18 seconds in 2024 to 14 minutes and 48 seconds. Air India ranked worst for the second consecutive year with average delays of over 36 minutes. Blue Islands, which ceased trading at the end of last year, came second, followed by TAP Air Portugal and Saudia. Scandinavian Airlines was the most punctual, averaging just eight minutes of delay.
TUI's Response
Aage Dunhaupt, from TUI Group, told the Mail that "minimising delays remains a top priority." He explained that TUI Airways often runs flights even when delayed, rather than cancelling them. "If we were to follow broader industry practices of cancelling flights more readily, our punctuality ranking would improve significantly. However, this would come at the expense of our customers," he said.
Industry Perspective
A spokesperson for trade body Airlines UK told ITV: "The vast majority of UK airline flights depart on time and CAA data shows customer satisfaction levels are at an all-time high." They added that most delays are caused by factors outside airline control, such as adverse weather, air traffic restrictions, 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," the spokesperson said.
