British tourists heading to Greece this summer have been warned to expect lengthy flight delays, as new analysis reveals Greek airports have the longest wait times for UK travellers in Europe.
Greek Airports Dominate Delay Rankings
Research by AirAdvisor's flight intelligence platform measured the percentage of flights delayed by 60 minutes or more between June and September 2025. Seven popular Greek holiday destinations—Kefalonia, Corfu, Rhodes, Zakynthos, Chania, Kos, and Mykonos—feature among the 20 most disrupted destinations.
While Milan Bergamo in Italy topped the list with 11.96% of flights delayed over 60 minutes, Greece as a whole emerged as the most disruption-prone country. Kefalonia ranked third with 11.79% of flights delayed, followed by Corfu at 9.54%.
Why Are Greek Airports So Disrupted?
Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor, explained: “Our research found that Greece is by some distance the most disruption-prone country for UK air passengers. Seven of the twenty most disrupted destinations for holidays from the UK to Europe are Greek islands. They tend to be much smaller than hubs in major metropolitan centres and are incredibly popular with holidaymakers from across the world.”
He added: “During the summer period, they frequently operate at maximum capacity, so when a mass disruption event occurs, there are implications for other services. When delays start to build up at an airport, a domino effect can occur, causing flights across a single day being pushed back, leading to higher rates of delays, particularly at peak periods.”
Compensation Rights for Delayed Passengers
Under UK government regulations, if your flight is delayed for more than three hours or cancelled, you may be eligible for compensation. The amount depends on the delay length and flight distance. Passengers are advised to check their entitlements and keep all documentation.
Top 20 Most Disrupted European Airports for UK Travellers
- Milan Bergamo, Italy – 11.96%
- Nice Cote d’Azur, France – 11.92%
- Kefalonia, Greece – 11.79%
- Pisa, Italy – 10.58%
- Corfu, Greece – 9.54%
- Palma de Mallorca, Spain – 9.33%
- Reus, Spain – 9.13%
- Ponta Delgada, Portugal (Azores) – 9.08%
- Olbia, Sardinia – 8.71%
- Zadar, Croatia – 8.65%
- Zakynthos, Greece – 8.48%
- Naples, Italy – 8.40%
- Chania, Greece – 8.33%
- Paphos, Cyprus – 7.87%
- Kos, Greece – 7.72%
- Rhodes, Greece – 7.68%
- Ibiza, Spain – 7.48%
- Alicante, Spain – 7.27%
- Mykonos, Greece – 6.95%
- Porto, Portugal – 6.88%
