UK Airlines with the Most Delayed Flights Unveiled

Air India has been designated as the UK's most delayed airline for 2024, with its flights taking off an average of almost 46 minutes behind schedule.

The details have been derived from an examination of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) statistics carried out by the PA news agency.

The study showed that the most delayed route was from Gatwick to Bangalore, where flights had an average delay exceeding 80 minutes out of 50 departures.

Rory Boland, who edits the consumer magazine Which?, Travel , described Air India s utterly unacceptable.

The airline stated that the disturbance was "mainly because of elements outside our control".

Guernsey Aurigny Air Services, which was based in Guernsey, recorded the second-least punctual performance for UK departures last year, with flights delayed by an average of 31 minutes and 12 seconds.

It was followed by Turkish Budget carrier SunExpress (29 minutes and 36 seconds) along with Air Portugal (25 minutes and 12 seconds).

Irish Emerald Airlines reported the most punctual service domestically last year, with flights from the UK experiencing delays of only 10 minutes and 30 seconds on average.

The assessment considered all planned and contracted take-offs from British airports by carriers that managed over 2,500 such operations in the previous year.Cancelled journeys were excluded.

The typical delay across all these airlines amounted to 18 minutes and 18 seconds, which represents a decrease from the previous year’s figure of 20 minutes and 42 seconds.

In January 2022, Tata Group took over Air India from the Indian government following significant financial losses amounting to billions of pounds.

The airline’s activities in the UK are currently Birmingham , Gatwick and Heathrow , with pathways leading to several Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore.

According to data provided by aviation analytics firm Cirium, the airline conducted 56% more flights departing from UK airports last year than in 2019.

It is anticipated to reach 90 per cent this year following the boost in flight schedules across multiple routes in March.

John Strickland, an aviation consultant, noted that significant efforts have been made to get the airline back on course following its "poor reputation" due to frequent delays and cancellations.

This issue partially arose due to insufficient funding for acquiring replacement components for airplanes, resulting in part of its airfleet being out of service.

Mr Strickland stated, "Following the period of stagnation before the Tata acquisition, they must now focus on improving their engineering capabilities, workforce management, inventory of spare parts, and other such elements."

He mentioned that part of Air India's promotional efforts for their new Airbus A350 first-class offering have centered around the excellence of their service.

He observed: "While enjoying delicious meals and having a fantastic team is important, ultimately your main focus should be running an airline that is both efficient and dependable."

“Definitely still a work in progress for them.”

Boland stated: "The recent delays won’t be unexpected news for travelers, who often have to pay exorbitant prices for flights only to receive an inconsistent service."

Air India experienced an average delay of 45 minutes, which is entirely unacceptable.

It’s high time for airlines to shape up and begin providing the services their customers are paying for.

An Air India representative stated: "In 2024, the airline encountered sporadic delays on its routes to and from the UK, largely as a result of circumstances outside our control."

“Proactive operational initiatives like self-check-in, baggage drop and automated boarding process have ensured smoother airport touchpoint experience and faster turnaround of aircraft, boosting on-time departures.

The introduction of the new Airbus A350 and improved B787-9 planes on certain UK routes has also contributed to better efficiency in our flight schedules.

During the initial quarter of 2025, Air India witnessed considerable enhancement in the punctuality of our direct services between the UK and India. This positive trend is mirrored in our NPS (customer satisfaction) metrics.

Based on the distance of the flight path and the duration of the delay, travellers who have tickets for flights departing from UK airports that are experiencing tardiness may be eligible for support including an appropriate quantity of sustenance and beverages, a facility to stay connected with others, and lodging options should they require them overnight.

Travelers might also have the option to seek compensation amounting to as much as £520 from the airline if the cause of the delay is attributed to factors under its control, such as an issue with the plane or illness of the crew member.

The CAA’s consumer chief, Anna Bowles, stated: "We insist that all airlines operating within the UK maintain high levels of service and reliability."

Although most airlines have improved their performance regarding delays, resulting in an overall decrease in waiting times, these hold-ups can still lead to considerable disruptions and inconveniences for travelers.

Delays happen due to various factors, and we strongly believe that airlines should reduce their effects by offering prompt updates and adhering to passengers' rights whenever applicable.

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