Daniel Sexton reported from South East for BBC News that Gatwick Airport has once again claimed the title of the UK’s worst airport for flight delays. Data analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data revealed that departures from Gatwick in 2024 were, on average, more than 23 minutes behind schedule. Although this is an improvement from the previous year’s nearly 27-minute delay, it still surpasses the delays seen at any other UK airport.
The continuous suffering of Gatwick Airport from air traffic control (ATC) disruptions has been cited as the primary reason for the ongoing delays. A spokesperson for the airport acknowledged the impact of ATC restrictions in other parts of Europe and expressed a commitment to collaborating with airlines on implementing a robust plan to enhance on-time performance in 2025.
In the ranking of airports with the poorest punctuality records in the UK last year, Birmingham Airport came in second after Gatwick, with an average delay exceeding 21 minutes. Following closely behind was Manchester Airport in third place, with delays averaging 20 minutes. On a brighter note, Belfast City Airport managed to maintain its position as the UK’s most punctual airport for the second consecutive year, boasting an average delay per flight of under 12 minutes.
Despite the possibility of passenger entitlement to compensation for delays depending on the circumstances, issues related to air traffic control are often categorized as “extraordinary circumstances”, thereby exempting affected passengers from compensation. Gatwick Airport, which touts itself as the world’s most efficient single-runway airport with flights operating every 55 seconds, is currently contemplating an expansion plan involving the routine use of its emergency runway. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has expressed a willingness to support the expansion if the project undergoes necessary adjustments, with the airport expected to provide a response by Thursday
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