Gatwick has been ranked as the UK’s least punctual airport with passengers facing average delays of 22 minutes last year, according to new figures.
The study by Go.Compare analysed Civil Aviation Authority data from 25 UK airports between April 2024 and March 2025. It found that more than one in 10 Gatwick flights (12 per cent) were delayed by between 31 minutes and an hour, while 1.5 per cent were cancelled — equating to around 4,050 flights.
Across the UK, the average delay was 16.9 minutes and 1.8 per cent of flights were cancelled.
Manchester, Southend and Stansted also ranked among the worst-performing airports, each recording average delays of around 20 minutes. The Isle of Man came fifth-worst, with 19-minute delays and a cancellation rate of almost 4 per cent.
At the other end of the table, Belfast City was named the UK’s most punctual airport, with average delays of just 11 minutes. Aberdeen followed with 12.5 minutes and London City ranked third with 13 minutes.
However, Belfast City and Aberdeen recorded some of the highest cancellation rates, at 3.1 per cent and 4 per cent respectively. Other strong performers included East Midlands International, Liverpool John Lennon, Glasgow, Belfast International, Southampton, Leeds Bradford and Edinburgh.
Rhys Jones, travel insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “Unfortunately, sometimes delayed flights can’t be avoided. Although it’s frustrating to be left waiting in the terminal, being prepared for this situation can help ease the stress of a delay or cancellation.
“If your travel plans are flexible, choosing your airport carefully could help prevent a long delay. Flying out of a smaller airport, when possible, like London City or Leeds Bradford might just reduce your risk. But if you can’t change your departure destination, being prepared will go a long way to easing your stress. Pack any essentials like medication and toiletries in your hand luggage, where permitted.
“Plus, look out for travel insurance policies that cover you for extensive flight delays or cancellations. While responsibility often lies with the airline, some policies can help in the event of delays, so always check the details of your insurance with your provider. Knowing you have protection can make a frustrating situation much easier.”
