The worst airlines for flight delays in the UK revealed

Wizz Air was the worst major airline for flight delays from UK airports for the second year in a row, an investigation has found.

The Hungarian carrier's UK departures were an average of 46 minutes and six seconds behind schedule last year, according to analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data.

That was more than three times longer than the previous year, when it was also ranked last for punctuality.

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Consumer group Which? described the figures as "worrying" and claimed they demonstrated the need for the CAA to be given tougher powers.

Passengers getting on a Wizz Air plane at Luton Airport. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA WirePassengers getting on a Wizz Air plane at Luton Airport. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
Passengers getting on a Wizz Air plane at Luton Airport. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

Wizz Air operates short-haul flights from eight UK airports, including Edinburgh, Birmingham, Gatwick and Luton.

Tui recorded the second worst punctuality last year, with an average delay of 40 minutes and 18 seconds.

This was followed by Qatar Airways (31 minutes and 48 seconds), Turkish Airlines (29 minutes and 30 seconds) and Pegasus Airlines (27 minutes and 18 seconds).

Norwegian Air Shuttle recorded the best performance with an average delay of just 13 minutes and 42 seconds.

The analysis took into account all scheduled and chartered departures from UK airports by airlines with more than 2,500 flights. Cancelled flights were not included.

The average delay for all these flights was 23 minutes.

May and June were the worst months for punctuality as the aviation sector failed to recruit and train enough staff to cope with a surge in demand for holidays following the ending of the UK's coronavirus travel rules.

Rory Boland, editor of magazine Which? Travel, said: "These figures are worrying, but will be no surprise to passengers who've had to endure shoddy treatment from airlines for years.

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"With a regulator still lacking the appropriate powers to punish airlines who break the law, including withholding refunds, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that some carriers are simply getting away with leaving passengers high and dry.

"To better protect passengers, the Government must give the CAA effective powers to clamp down on poor airline behaviour, which includes the ability to hand out hefty fines when they continually flout the law."

The CAA has civil powers to take enforcement action against airlines, but court cases typically take several years to be concluded. UK Government proposals to give the regulator more powers were consulted on in early 2022, but no changes have been made.

CAA consumer director Paul Smith claimed "too many passengers faced disappointing levels of delays" last year.

He said: "The CAA has regularly asked for stronger consumer enforcement powers, including the ability to impose fines on airlines. When things do go wrong, we expect airlines to proactively provide passengers with information about their rights when flights are disrupted, as well as offer timely support and assistance.”

Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said strong booking levels for flights suggest consumers were "confident that issues have mostly been sorted".

A spokesman for trade body Airlines UK said: "The whole industry knows how important punctuality is for customers.”

This is the full ranking of major airlines based on flight punctuality from UK airports in 2022.

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Airlines are ordered from the longest average delay per flight to the shortest (duration in brackets).

1. Wizz Air: 46 minutes and six seconds

2. Tui: 40 minutes and 18 seconds

3. Qatar Airways: 31 minutes and 48 seconds

4. Turkish Airlines: 29 minutes and 30 seconds

5. Pegasus Airlines: 27 minutes and 18 seconds

6. Flybe: 26 minutes and six seconds

7. Air Portugal: 25 minutes and 48 seconds

8. Air Canada: 25 minutes and 18 seconds

9. British Airways: 23 minutes

10. Vueling: 22 minutes and 12 seconds

=11. Ryanair: 22 minutes

=11. Loganair: 22 minutes

13. Jet2.com: 21 minutes and 42 seconds

14. Air France: 21 minutes

15. Swiss Airlines: 20 minutes and 48 seconds

16. Emirates: 20 minutes and 36 seconds

17. EasyJet: 20 minutes and 24 seconds

18. Lufthansa: 20 minutes

19. Eurowings: 19 minutes and 24 seconds

20. Virgin Atlantic: 19 minutes

21. KLM: 18 minutes and 30 seconds

22. Delta Airlines: 18 minutes and 18 seconds

23. Aer Lingus: 18 minutes and six seconds

24. Eastern Airways: 17 minutes and 30 seconds

25. American Airlines: 16 seconds and 48 seconds

26. Blue Islands: 16 minutes and 42 seconds

27. Aurigny Air Services: 16 minutes and 30 seconds

28. Iberia: 15 minutes and 36 seconds

29. SAS: 14 minutes and 30 seconds

30. United Airlines: 14 minutes and six seconds

31. Norwegian Air Shuttle: 13 minutes and 42 seconds

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