Importance Score: 55 / 100 🔵
Gatwick Airport Ranked Worst in UK for Flight Delays
Official data has revealed London Gatwick as the UK’s most delay-prone airport, with ongoing air traffic control problems cited as the primary cause of schedule interruptions. This news comes as flight delays continue to be a major concern for air travelers. The figures highlight Gatwick Airport’s struggle with punctuality compared to other major UK airports.
Persistent Air Traffic Control Issues Blamed
In 2024, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data indicates that departures from the UK’s second largest airport experienced an average delay exceeding 23 minutes. This makes the West Sussex airport the UK’s least punctual for the second consecutive year. Analysis by PA Media reveals average delays at Birmingham and Manchester airports were approximately 21 and 20 minutes respectively.
Slight Improvement from Previous Year
Gatwick’s 2024 average delay represents an improvement from the 27-minute average in the prior year. This improvement comes as Nats, the airport’s air traffic control (ATC) service provider, addressed staffing deficiencies that had previously impacted flight schedules.
Impact of Nats Staff Shortages
Although air traffic control issues have caused disruptions across European airlines and airports, staff shortages at Nats specifically impacted Gatwick’s outsourced control tower. This highlights the wider challenges faced by the aviation industry in managing air traffic effectively.
Airport Spokesperson Comments on Resolved Staffing Issues and Future Improvements
An airport spokesperson stated that the staffing issues at the control tower have been completely resolved. Gatwick is currently seeking government approval for a second runway, a project that aims to almost double the airport’s operational capacity.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
The spokesperson added that Gatwick successfully avoided anticipated disruptions during the busy Easter period. A planned strike by ground handlers from the Unite union had “no operational impact” and resulted in no cancellations or notable delays.
“Air traffic control limitations in other European regions continue to affect airport operations,” the spokesperson further noted. “Working collaboratively with our airline partners, we have implemented a comprehensive strategy to enhance on-time performance further in 2025,” the spokesperson concluded.
UK Airports Punctuality Performance: Belfast City Leads
PA Media’s analysis encompassed scheduled and chartered flights from 22 UK commercial airports with at least 1,000 departures in 2024. Among these, Belfast City (George Best) Airport demonstrated the best punctuality, with an average delay of under 12 minutes per departing flight.
Overall Improvement in UK Flight Delays
Overall, average flight delays across UK airports showed improvement last year, decreasing by approximately 10%. The average delay was reduced to 18 minutes and 24 seconds, compared to 20 minutes and 42 seconds in 2023.
Industry Response and Passenger Rights
An AirportsUK trade body representative commented, “The aviation sector is still recovering from the pandemic and operates within an extremely busy global environment that poses resilience challenges. It is encouraging to observe the data indicating a continued decrease in delays as all stakeholders in aviation collaborate to deliver the best possible service to passengers,” the representative added.
The CAA advised passengers to be aware of their rights to assistance during delays. This includes provisions for refreshments and, under specific conditions, potential compensation for significant delays, typically applicable to delays exceeding three hours.
Selina Chadha, a director at the CAA, stated, “The aviation industry is committed to ensuring flight punctuality, but delays are sometimes unavoidable. Our priority is to monitor the actions taken by airlines and airports to minimize disruptions and ensure compliance with their legal responsibilities in supporting passengers when flight disruptions occur,” Chadha concluded.