Flight delays: research finds Gatwick, Luton and Manchester among worst airports

With new research revealing average flight delays at UK airports, we examine your rights to compensation if your journey is hit by a late take-off.

A new investigation of official data from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has identified which airports were the worst for delays over the past year.

According to the findings, Gatwick Airport was the worst in the country during 2023, with passengers enduring delays of almost 27 minutes on average.

Birmingham, which was the worst offender in 2022, placed fifth in the rankings.

At the other end of the scale, Belfast City Airport (also known as ‘George Best’) was the most flyer-friendly, with a typical delay of 12-and-a-half minutes.

The average across all airports was just below 20 minutes and 42 seconds, the CAA found.

On the face of it, those delays don’t look too bad.

A flight taking off 20 minutes or so after its scheduled time isn’t the end of the world, after all.

In fact, this is down by a couple of minutes from the previous year.

However, when you weigh up the number of flights leaving each of these airports, the average figure masks some extraordinarily long individual delays.

And as Gatwick is the UK’s second busiest airport, there is no shortage of flights being impacted – in which a delay can be even more painful.

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What are my rights?

Before you go on any flight, it’s a good idea to get up to speed on your rights should your journey be delayed or cancelled.

The law states that airlines have to provide you with “care and assistance” if your flight is significantly delayed.

This includes:

• A reasonable amount of food and drink (often provided in the form of vouchers);
• A means for you to communicate (often by refunding the cost of your calls);
• Accommodation, if you are re-routed the next day (usually in a nearby hotel);
• Transport to and from the accommodation (or your home, if you are able to return there).

Importantly, the airline is required to provide these items until it can fly you to your destination, no matter how long the delay lasts or what caused it.

You are also entitled to compensation if you arrive late at your destination.

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Watch out for the fine print

Be aware, these rights only kick in after a certain period, and that time threshold varies based on the distance you’re travelling.

A short-haul flight of under 1,500km requires a delay of at least two hours, while medium-haul flights (1,500km to 3,500 km) must be delayed by at least three hours.

For a long-haul flight, the delay must run for more than four hours.

How much compensation will I get?

The amount you’re entitled to depends on the distance travelled, and you need to be at least three hours late.

For short-haul journeys, you get £220, for medium-haul £350, and for long-haul £520.

With long-haul flights, this figure drops to £260 if your delay is under four hours.

Your rights if your flight is cancelled

Should your flight be cancelled, then you have the legal right to choose how the airline rectifies the situation.

You can either get a full refund, which includes other flights from the airline that are part of the same booking and you are unable to use. This could cover things such as onward or return flights.

Alternatively, you can opt to be booked on another flight.

If you’re stranded abroad or at the airport as the result of a cancellation, your airline must also provide you with support until you are able to fly.

Again, this may include a reasonable amount of food and drink, means of communication, accommodation, and transport to this accommodation.

Be aware, these rules apply if your airline is UK or EU-based. If you are not flying from the UK, you should check the airline’s terms and conditions.

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