Flight delays fall at Gatwick but still below UK average

AirAdvisor said between January and June 2025, 75.5 per cent of flights were on time, up from 69 per cent in the same period in 2024.

This falls below the national average, with 77 per cent of flights at UK airports on time.

Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor, said: "Delays decreased at Gatwick Airport in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year. However, the airport is still performing below the national average in terms of punctuality."

Other major airports also struggled, with both Manchester and Birmingham only having 71.5 per cent and 72.5 per cent of flights on time respectively.

Data from the CAA shows that Aberdeen was the UK's most punctual major airport in the first half of the year, with 83 per cent of flights on time.

Mr Radchenko said: "The picture in terms of flight delays is definitely improving across the UK.

"According to the CAA, only 72.5 per cent of UK flights in the first six months of 2024 were on-time, so the leap to 77 per cent in the same period this year is a marked improvement.

"In the years that followed the pandemic, flight delays rocketed to record highs due to airlines and airports struggling with staff shortages and supply chain issues that combined with a surge in demand for air travel.

"Airlines, in particular, were caught between a rock and a hard place, because UK government legislation means that passengers can claim compensation if their flight is delayed due to a situation that an airline could have avoided.

"So, in recent years especially, it’s been in airlines’ interest to do what they can to reduce flight delays - and rightly so, especially when you consider how much more expensive most flights are now, compared to say, ten years ago.

"Likewise, airport managers want their hubs to be destinations where passengers begin unforgettable journeys in a comfortable and stress-free manner. Because of this, they also work to keep delays as low as possible."