Flight delays for six airlines with significant UK operations are worse than before the coronavirus pandemic, with a major increase in passengers waiting more than 15 minutes past their departure time to get in the air.
Consumer group Which? analysed years of flight data and found that British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, Tui and Wizz Air were less punctual in the 12 months leading up to April’s end than in 2019, prior to the virus crisis.
Tui had the poorest performance among the airlines included in the research, which was based on Civil Aviation Authority data. Only 59.2 per cent of the carrier’s UK departures took off within 15 minutes of the schedule in 2024/25, a drop from 67.2% in 2019.
Airlines have pointed the finger at air traffic control (ATC) staff shortages and industrial action for much of their flight disruption. Eurocontrol, the European air traffic management body, has stated that the number of ATC officers in some parts of the network is 10-20 per cent below what is needed to manage demand.
However, Nats, the UK ATC provider, insists it is fully staffed.
Airlines are not obligated to pay compensation for delays outside their control – such as ATC issues – and in some cases, it can be challenging for passengers to determine the true cause of disruption.
Naomi Leach, deputy editor of magazine Which? Travel, said: “Our analysis shows that many airlines are less punctual than before the pandemic, which will come as no surprise to those travellers who have experienced delays.
“Airlines need to improve how they communicate with and support passengers during delays, ensuring they inform travellers about their right to claim compensation.
“Thousands of travellers could be entitled to compensation if they have faced delays, so it is always worth putting a claim in with your airline and escalating the complaint if it refuses to pay compensation.”
Here are the percentages of UK departures within 15 minutes of the schedule for six airlines in 2024/25 and 2019:
- British Airways: 68.7% in 2024/25, down from 71.5% in 2019
- Jet2: 68.0% in 2024/25, a significant drop from 81.8% in 2019
- EasyJet: 67.8% in 2024/25, slightly down from 70.6% in 2019
- Ryanair: 66.5% in 2024/25, down from 77.8% in 2019
- Wizz Air: 66.0% in 2024/25, almost the same as 66.8% in 2019
- Tui: 59.2% in 2024/25, 67.2% in 2019
Tui said in a statement that punctuality remains a top priority but stressed that preventing flight cancellations is “even more important” as holidaymakers “want to fly to their destination”.
EasyJet insisted it does “all possible” to minimise delays, whilst Wizz Air argued some delays are beyond its control and it does “whatever we can to avoid cancellations”.
British Airways, Jet2 and Ryanair declined to comment.