Delays at Glasgow and Edinburgh airports drop to record low

By ALASTAIR DALTON
Published on 02/08/2012 00:00

FLIGHT delays at Scotland’s two busiest airports have dropped to their lowest levels since current records began, official figures show.

• Figures show that flight delays at Edinburgh and Glasgow airport are at their lowest since records began in 1998

Improved efficiency at Glasgow airport is seen as boosting the punctuality of its scheduled – non-charter – flights to 88 per cent in the first three months of the year.

The figure was joint best with Newcastle’s among major UK airports and two percentage points better than a year ago.

Edinburgh notched up 86 per cent of flights arriving and departing on time – within 15 minutes of schedule – which is one percentage point better than in 2011. It attributed this to closer teamwork with airlines.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which published the figures, said they had not been matched since current records started in 1998.

Average delays also fell, by one minute to eight minutes at both Scottish airports.

However, it was more of a mixed picture for charter flights, with Glasgow improving its punctuality by one point to 77 per cent but average delays increased by three minutes to 20 minutes.

At Edinburgh, time-keeping was three points worse than a year ago, at 69 per cent, but average delays shortened by a minute to 22 minutes.

Separate figures show the most punctual airlines at both airports were non-London flights operated by Bmi, which has been since been sold to British Airways’ parent company. They averaged 2-4 minutes late.

According to the flightontime.info website, which analyses CAA figures, EasyJet – Scotland’s biggest airline – was next best, with its flights averaging 5-6 minutes late.

Its punctuality compares to 8-9 minutes’ delay for rivals BA and Ryanair, 9 minutes for Bmi’s Heathrow flights (from Edinburgh only) and 8-10 minutes for Flybe.

A spokesman for Glasgow airport said: “Punctuality is an area we are always seeking to improve so we are very encouraged by the latest set of figures from the CAA which highlight the progress we have made in recent years.

“We continually work closely with our airline partners and their handling agents to improve overall levels of efficiency, and our recent performance will have been aided by our investment in a new airport operating system.”

An Edinburgh airport spokesman said: “These punctuality figures are the result of hard work and co-operation. We have been working hard with our airlines and their handling agents to improve over a range of areas.

“The effective running of an airport is a team game and we’ll continue to work with all the players to deliver the best service for our passengers.”