- Isle of Man Airport revealed to be the UK’s most delayed airport, with the highest cancellations and flights averaging a 35-minute delay
- More than one in 10 flights to and from Gatwick Airport were delayed by over an hour
- Southampton Airport is the UK’s least disrupted airport, with just a 15-minute delay on average –
As summer travel kicks into high gear, passengers are finding themselves facing the inevitable challenge of flight delays. Strikes, adverse weather, technical issues and rule changes are all contributing to long delays and cancelled flights, much to the chagrin of consumers.
Consumer satisfaction with their flying experience has been steadily falling post-pandemic, with delays the biggest contributing factor to poor consumer experiences when flying.
With this in mind, leading business travel management company Good Travel Management has delved into which UK airports are the most disrupted by long delays and have the greatest proportion of flight cancellations.
In first place as the UK’s most delayed airport is Isle of Man Airport, also known as Ronaldsway Airport.
Despite having just 17 destinations for travellers to visit across six airlines, passengers flying to and from the Isle of Man can expect longer delays than anywhere else in the UK, with flights delayed by 35 minutes 6 seconds on average. By comparison, flights with Heathrow Airport, the UK’s busiest airport, are delayed by just 25 minutes 41 seconds on average with 35 percent quicker wait times.
Isle of Man Airport also has the highest volume of cancellations than any other airport, with 5.2 percent of all flights cancelled last year. Since August of 2023, the airport has been closing its runway for two morning breaks due to shortages of air traffic controllers, though the airport is expected to lift these closures by autumn.
The shortage of staff has left several travellers facing long delays, and while the airport is rated above average on Google reviews (averaging 4.0 stars), complaints of being left on planes for long periods are not uncommon. One passenger described the airport as “a joke. Landed 60 minutes ago and stuck on a plane because there are no stairs or stairs of staff available for us to disembark” while another described Ronsaldsway as “genuinely, one of the slowest airports I’ve ever used.”
Just missing out on the top spot is London Gatwick Airport, with an average delay of 33 minutes 37 seconds, almost 10 minutes higher than the national average of 24 minutes 6 seconds.
While the number of cancelled flights is lower than the national average, 1.8 percent compared to 2.1 percent, travellers to and from Gatwick Airport have the most significant delays of anywhere in the UK. More than one in 10 flights to and from Gatwick Airport were delayed by over an hour (13 percent), the highest of all UK airports and almost double that of Heathrow Airport, at just seven percent.
In third place is Bristol Airport, with an average wait of 31 minutes. Of the 26,372 flights that were delayed or cancelled last year, 6,573 were delayed by over an hour.
The airport is also among the highest for the number of cancellations, with 10 percent of all its flights being cancelled last year. The airport made headlines last year after it was hit with a barrage of incidents that impacted air travel, from storms grounding planes, to a road collision that blocked entrance to Bristol Airport.
London Luton Airport (29 minutes 13 seconds) and Edinburgh Airport (28 minutes 49 seconds) take fourth and fifth place, respectively.
At the other end of the scale, Southampton is the UK’s least disrupted airport, with delays of just 15 minutes 38 seconds on average, nine minutes faster than the national average.
Belfast City Airport is the UK’s second-least disrupted airport, with average delays of 16 minutes 16 seconds. It also has the lowest proportion of flights being delayed for significant periods, with just 5 percent of its flights delayed by more than an hour, the lowest in the UK, compared to the national average of 8 percent.
Exeter completes takes third place, with delays averaging 18 minutes and 31 seconds.
Leeds Bradford Airport (18 minutes 42 seconds) and Cardiff Airport (19 minutes 49 seconds) complete the top five airports.
As this study proves, every airport will experience delays to varying degrees. With longer wait times increasingly becoming the norm for travellers, knowing which airports offer the best facilities will help keep you occupied and ensure a more positive travel experience.
With this in mind, Good Travel Management found which UK airports offer the best wellness facilities, including lounges, private resting and shower facilities, quiet zones, business buildings or areas, spas, and other services such as beauticians or hairdressers, their own meet and greet car parking services, fast track, if healthy food options are available, and average review scores.
In first place with an impressive score of 4.1 out of 5 is London Heathrow Airport. Although in ninth place for average review score (3.15/5), London Heathrow excels in wellbeing facilities. It boasts ten lounges, eight with shower facilities, multiple quiet zones, a Be Relax Spa, Bradley Smith Hair Express Bar, and the Regus Express Business Lounge.
For healthy dining, Heathrow offers Pret A Manger in all terminals, Caviar House and Prunier Seafood Bar, Leon, Wondertree, Yo Sushi, Wagamama, Giraffe and Itsu.
In second place is Birmingham Airport, with a score of 3.2 out of 5. Birmingham Airport’s amenities cater to diverse traveller needs, with three lounges across two terminals, fast track security, meet and greet services, and healthy food options like Pret A Manger and Giraffe’s ‘bowls for the soul’.
Newcastle Airport completes the top three, with a score of 3 out of 5. Newcastle Airport stands out with Private SnoozePods in their Aspire Plus Lounge, offering a unique relaxation experience. Each pod includes a Smart TV with on-demand services.
London Gatwick Airport (2.6) and London City Airport (2.5) complete the top five airports for wellbeing facilities.
Laura Busby, Commercial Director at Good Travel Management, commented on the findings:
“While delays are an unfortunate and disruptive aspect of air travel, the disparity in their frequency and duration among airports highlights critical areas where improvements are crucial to alleviate traveller frustrations and ensure smoother journeys.
“However, having access to excellent wellbeing facilities can make a substantial difference. Airports that invest in passenger comfort, from quiet zones and lounges to healthy dining options and spa services, can turn a potentially stressful situation into a more pleasant experience.”
Featured Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash.