Gatwick is the United Kingdom’s worst airport for flight delays for the second one yr working, in line with new knowledge from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
After affected by persevered air visitors keep an eye on (ATC) disruptions, departures from the West Sussex airport had been behind schedule via greater than 23 mins on moderate in 2024.
In 2023, its flights had been behind schedule via just about 27 mins – so the airport, which is the United Kingdom’s moment busiest, has observed an development.
A spokesperson mentioned the airport had a “powerful plan” to make stronger issues additional in 2025, together with a brand new solution to separate arriving airplane, and trialling the co-ordination of connecting jet bridges to planes remotely.
They mentioned Gatwick stays “the sector’s best single-runway airport, with flights departing or arriving each 55 seconds”.
Gatwick used to be badly impacted via ATC body of workers shortages each in Europe and in its personal keep an eye on tower remaining yr, which a 2024 document via the Royal Aeronautical Society advised is also partly because of the pandemic.
It mentioned staffing used to be lowered as a result of a downturn in visitors all through lockdowns, and recruiting and coaching new ATC staff can take as much as 3 years.
Julia Lo Bue-Mentioned, leader government of Benefit Shuttle Partnership, a community of unbiased shuttle brokers, mentioned passengers must be expecting higher than “caught in terminals” for hours “with little data or toughen”.
UK’s most sensible ten worst airports for delays – ranked
10 – Cardiff Airport
Cardiff had moderate delays of 17 mins and 36 seconds.
9 – Luton Airport
Luton recorded moderate delays of 17 mins and 42 seconds in 2024.
That used to be an development at the yr sooner than, with the airport recording delays of just about 23 mins in 2023.
8 – Bournemouth Airport
Bournemouth additionally noticed an development.
Regardless of recording moderate delays of 17 mins and 48 seconds, it noticed round a two-and-a-half minute development at the yr sooner than.
7 – Edinburgh Airport
Scotland’s busiest airport had moderate delays of 18 mins and 6 seconds in 2024.
That used to be an development of just about three-and-a-half mins from the twelve months earlier.
6 – Exeter Airport
Exeter, then again, noticed rising delays in 2024.
Ultimate yr’s knowledge confirmed moderate delays of quarter-hour and 42 seconds on the airport.
In 2024, that determine jumped to 19 mins.
5 – Teesside World Airport
Teesside additionally recorded longer delays of round two mins on moderate.
In 2024, its departing flights had been behind schedule via a mean of nineteen mins and 6 seconds.
4 – Stansted Airport
Stansted recorded moderate delays of nineteen mins and 36 seconds in 2024, a 30-second building up at the earlier yr.
3 – Manchester Airport
The United Kingdom’s third-busiest airport got here 0.33 at the listing with moderate delays of 20 mins remaining yr.
In 2023, its delays had been longer via just about two mins.
2 – Birmingham Airport
Birmingham noticed delays of 21 mins and 18 seconds.
Regardless of shifting up the listing, it advanced its prolong time via 12 seconds at the yr sooner than.
1 – Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport recorded delays of 23 mins and 18 seconds, an development of over 3 mins and 36 seconds.
On the different finish of the desk…
Belfast Town airport recorded the most productive punctuality in the United Kingdom for the second one yr in a row.
Its conventional prolong consistent with flight used to be not up to 12 mins.
The common prolong for flights from primary UK airports used to be 18 mins and 24 seconds in 2024, down from 20 mins and 42 seconds in 2023.
Learn extra from Sky Information:
Husband describes ‘horror’ as spouse killed on golfing direction
Police attraction over ‘mindless’ injury to seven statues
“Aviation continues to recuperate from the pandemic, and operates in a particularly busy, international setting with resilience demanding situations,” mentioned a spokesperson for business frame AirportsUK.
“It’s due to this fact sure that the knowledge presentations delays proceed to return down as everybody in aviation works in combination to give you the best possible imaginable provider to passengers.”
