Gatwick worst airport for flight delays in the UK for the second year running, with flights departing an average of over 23 minutes late in 2024, new data from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has revealed. Despite a slight improvement from nearly 27 minutes in 2023, Gatwick still trails every other major UK airport in punctuality.
A spokesperson for Gatwick Airport attributed the delays to persistent air traffic control (ATC) disruptions, not only from staffing shortages in continental Europe, but also within its own control tower. Gatwick, located in West Sussex, is the UK’s second busiest airport and operates what it claims to be “the world’s most efficient single-runway system,” with a plane taking off or landing every 55 seconds.
“Together with our airlines, we’ve put in place a robust plan to improve on-time performance further in 2025,” the airport added.
Other Airports and Punctuality Rankings
Following Gatwick, Birmingham Airport reported the second-worst delay average at over 21 minutes, while Manchester Airport came third with 20 minutes of average delays.
At the other end of the spectrum, Belfast City Airport once again recorded the best on-time performance, with delays averaging under 12 minutes—earning the title of the UK’s most punctual airport for the second year in a row.
Passenger Compensation and Delay Policies
While UK passengers are generally eligible for compensation when flights are significantly delayed, ATC-related issues are classified as “extraordinary circumstances” under civil aviation rules—meaning no compensation is required from airlines for such delays.
Looking Ahead: Expansion and Reform
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander recently indicated conditional support for Gatwick’s expansion plans, which include converting its emergency runway into regular operational use. The airport has until Thursday to respond with adjusted proposals.
As Gatwick remains the worst airport for flight delays, pressure mounts on both the airport and airline partners to deliver on their 2025 punctuality improvement plans and address operational bottlenecks that continue to affect millions of travellers each year.
