Gatwick has ranked as the UK’s worst airport for flight delays for the second year in a row, after yet another year of disruption.
Flights from the West Sussex airport recorded average delays of more than 23 minutes in 2024, according to new analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data.
Although a minor improvement from the nearly 27-minute average wait in 2023, Gatwick continues to lag behind other UK airports when it comes to punctuality.
The airport, which is the UK’s second busiest, was badly affected by Air Traffic Control (ATC) staff shortages across Europe in 2024.
Thousands of passengers travelling through Gatwick were affected with flights delayed, cancelled and diverted. And it wasn’t the only UK airport affected by the shortages.
Birmingham had the second poorest punctuality record last year, with an average of more than 21 minutes.
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In third place was Manchester Airport, with average delays of around 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the table, Belfast City Airport recorded the best punctuality for the second year in a row, with an average flight delay of less than 12 minutes.
A spokesperson for Gatwick said the airport had a ‘robust plan’ to improve punctuality in 2025, this includes a new method to separate arriving aircraft, and trialling the co-ordination of connecting jet bridges to planes remotely.
They added that Gatwick remains ‘the world’s most efficient single-runway airport, with flights departing or arriving every 55 seconds’.
The analysis, by PA news agency, took into account scheduled and chartered departures from 22 commercial UK airports with at least 1,000 outbound flights last year. Flight cancellations were not considered.
The average delay for these flights was 18 minutes and 24 seconds, which was down from 20 minutes and 42 seconds in 2023.
Selina Chadha, director, consumer and markets group at the Civil Aviation Authority said: ‘The industry works hard to ensure flights are punctual, but sometimes delays occur.
‘What is important to us is what airlines and airports do to minimise disruption, as well as comply with their legal obligations to look after passengers if something happens to their flight.
‘We also advise consumers to know what assistance they are entitled to if they face a lengthy delay.’
If your flight is delayed, your airline has a duty of care to look after you, the CAA website states. This includes providing food and drink, access to communication and accommodation if the delay is long enough to require an overnight stay.
Many airlines will provide vouchers for passengers to provide food and drink and may book a hotel and arrange transportation for you, if required.
However, sometimes airlines are unable to arrange care and assistance for all passengers during major disruptions. If this happens, the CAA advises passengers to keep a receipt and do not spend more than what is ‘reasonable.’
Depending on the length of delay, distance of the flight and reason for disruption, passengers may be able to claim compensation of up to £520.
However, flight delays are often caused by circumstances beyond the airport’s control, such as severe weather, technical issues or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’. Disruptions caused by these circumstances are unlikely to award compensation.
ATC issues are considered to be an ‘extraordinary circumstance’, meaning passengers would not be entitled to compensation.
My flight is delayed. Am I entitled to compensation?
The CAA states: ‘Under UK law, airlines must provide you with care and assistance if your flight is significantly delayed.’
These timeframes are split into three categories:
- For short-haul (up to 1,500km over two hours or less), you must have been waiting for two hours or more.
- For medium-haul (between 1,500km and 3,500km over two to four hours), it’s three hours or more.
- For long-haul (more than 3,500km over four hours or more), it’s four hours or more.
Under UK law, airlines may have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than two hours late. The length of your flight determines the amount you could be entitled to.
Find more information on flight delays and cancellations, here.
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