GATWICK was the worst performing major airport for passenger delays last year, new figures reveal.

Statistics from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) show just 74% of Gatwick arrivals and departures were on time in 2014.

The CAA statistics covered flights in and out of 10 UK airports – Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, London City, Luton, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Gatwick’s performance was down four per cent on 2013 figures. Passengers endured average delays of 15 minutes in 2014, up from 13 in 2013.

Of the 10 airports only Newcastle (up one percentage point), Manchester (up one percentage point) and Heathrow (up two percentage points), improved their scheduled flight punctuality in 2014 compared with 2013.

Gatwick, the second busiest airport in the UK with 232,000 scheduled flights per year, told The Argus: “The airport has recently invested in efficiency improvements and expects a significantly better performance this year. “In December Gatwick was officially accredited for ‘Airport Collaborative Decision Making’ (ACDM) – a process which allows Gatwick and third parties to share data allowing aircraft to turn around and take off quicker and more efficiently.”

Nationally, a total of 73% of charter flights were on time at the ten major UK airports last year compared with 77% in 2013, the CAA said.

Scheduled flight punctuality also dipped - from 80% in 2013 to 79% in 2014.

The average delay for chartered flights rose from 17 minutes in 2013 to 18 minutes in 2014, while the average delay to scheduled flights last year was unchanged at 12 minutes.

For scheduled flights, London City had the best punctuality record last year, with 88% of flights on time and an average delay of seven minutes.

CAA regulatory policy director Iain Osborne said: “Arriving on time matters to passengers and our work helps ensure consumers have the best data and information to make better and more informed choices.

“In the last five years punctuality has been improving and it is therefore disappointing to see a small dip in performance in the last year.

“Notwithstanding this, the industry has had to deal with some unseasonably poor weather and a number of overseas air traffic control strikes, both beyond their control.

“With this in mind we expect the industry to continue to build on the overall positive trajectory and to do all they can to improve punctuality performance further.”

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“Gatwick operates the world’s busiest single runway airport and strives to get all flights in and out of the airport on time. “In December Gatwick was officially accredited for ‘Airport Collaborative Decision Making’ (ACDM) – which allows aircraft to turn around and take off quicker and more efficiently. It also improves operational planning through better predictability and improved utilization of European airspace.”