Worst UK airports for delays named - but does your travel insurance protect you?
Flights from the West Sussex airport left on average 23 minutes and 18 seconds late in 2024.
This is a slight improvement on the previous year - when it was also the worst performing - when delays were 27 minutes on average.
Birmingham, Manchester and Stansted were also poor performers, with Teesside making up the top five worst airports for delays.
Birmingham saw an average delay of 21 minutes and 18 seconds, while Manchester saw flights leave 20 minutes late. Close behind was Stansted in Essex, where passengers faced an average delay of 19 minutes and 36 seconds.
Belfast recorded the best punctuality for the second year in a row, with the average delay per flight 11 minutes and 36 seconds.
Read more: Wizz Air named worst for flight delays from UK – 31 airlines ranked
Gatwick is the UK's second busiest airport, but said it was affected by air traffic control staff shortages across continental Europe. It did also concede it had its own issues with air traffic control.
The analysis of Civil Aviation Authority data took into account scheduled and chartered departures from the 22 commercial UK airports with at least 1,000 outbound flights last year.
Cancellations were not included.
The average delay for all these flights last year was 18 minutes and 24 seconds, down from 20 minutes and 42 seconds in 2023.
Flight delay travel insurance
Yes you may be able to claim on your travel insurance if your flight is delayed for reasons beyond your control. But this does depend on the terms of your policy.
Claims available include overnight accommodation and travel costs.
Good travel insurance policies offer travel delay cover, which can include:
- A fixed cash payment (e.g. £20–£50 after a certain delay).
- Delayed departure benefits (e.g. £10–£30 per hour after the first three hours).
- Missed connection cover if a delay causes you to miss a connecting flight.
- Trip abandonment cover — if the delay is very long (usually 12+ hours) and you decide not to travel
Eligibility is not instant, with most policies only paying out once a delay is at least three hours long.
Read more: What does good travel insurance include?
However, much like your right to compensation and assistance from the airline (more on that below), travel insurance doesn't usually cover claims when a delay (or cancellation) is due to extraordinary circumstances. These include:
- Bad weather
- Security risks
- Air traffic control restrictions
- Strikes not involving the airline's own staff (like baggage handlers or airport security)
You most likely won't be able to claim on both travel insurance and from the airline. The travel insurance may deduct your compensation from their payment. However, it is often quicker and easier to claim through travel insurance so it is still worth having.
To make a claim on your travel insurance ensure you keep:
- Proof of delay (e.g. from the airline, flight tracker, airport desk).
- Evidence of expenses if your policy covers things like food or hotel costs.
- Your policy documents and receipts.
Your rights when a flight is delayed
Passengers flying out of the UK, or flying into the UK on a UK or EU airline, are entitled to the same compensation and support if their flights are delayed.
If your flight is delayed by more than two hours (for short-haul), or more than three-four hours for longer flights, the airline must provide:
- Free meals and refreshments (often via vouchers)
- Two free phone calls, emails or faxes
- Hotel accommodation if you're delayed overnight
- Transport between the airport and hotel (if accommodation is provided)
The longer the flight, the longer you have to wait before the airline coughs up a sandwich. For short-haul trips (under 1,500km), you’re due care after two hours, but on mid-length trips (1,500km-3,500km, such as the Canary Islands or Morocco) it's three hours, and long-haul flights (more than 3,500km, like Dubai or New York), it’s a four-hour wait before they legally owe you anything.
Read more: How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost UK?
You may also be entitled to compensation if your flight is delayed by three hours or more on arrival, and the delay was the airline’s fault (not caused by 'extraordinary circumstances' - more on that below).
| Flight distance | Arrival delay | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500km | 3+ hours | £220 |
| 1,500–3,500km | 3+ hours | £350 |
| 3,500km+ (e.g. long haul) | 3–4 hours | £260 |
| 3,500km+ | 4+ hours | £520 |
However, you won't be entitled to compensation if the delay was due to:
- Bad weather
- Security risks
- Air traffic control restrictions
- Strikes not involving the airline's own staff (like baggage handlers or airport security)
These are considered 'extraordinary circumstances' outside an airline's control.
You most likely won't be able to claim on both travel insurance and from the airline. The travel insurance may deduct your compensation from their payment.
How to claim compensation or on travel insurance
Contact the airline directly (many have online claim forms).
Keep boarding passes and receipts.
If they reject your claim, you can escalate it to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) body.
UK airport delays ranked
| Rank | Airport | Average delay per flight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gatwick | 23 minutes and 18 seconds |
| 2 | Birmingham | 21 minutes and 18 seconds |
| 3 | Manchester | 20 minutes |
| 4 | Stansted | 19 minutes and 36 seconds |
| 5 | Teesside | 19 minutes and six seconds |
| 6 | Exeter | 19 minutes |
| 7 | Edinburgh | 18 minutes and six seconds |
| 8 | Bournemouth | 17 minutes and 48 seconds |
| 9 | Luton | 17 minutes and 42 seconds |
| 10 | Cardiff Wales | 17 minutes and 36 seconds |
| =11 | Heathrow | 17 minutes and 24 seconds |
| =11 | Newcastle | 17 minutes and 24 seconds |
| 13 | Bristol | 17 minutes and six seconds |
| 14 | Southampton | 16 minutes and 24 seconds |
| 15 | Leeds Bradford | 16 minutes |
| 16 | Glasgow | 15 minutes and 12 seconds |
| 17 | London City | 15 minutes and six seconds |
| 18 | Belfast International | 14 minutes and 42 seconds |
| 19 | Aberdeen | 13 minutes and 18 seconds |
| 20 | Liverpool (John Lennon) | 12 minutes and 42 seconds |
| 21 | East Midlands International | 12 minutes and 30 seconds |
| 22 | Belfast City (George Best) | 11 minutes and 36 seconds |
Selina Chadha, a director at the CAA, said: "The industry works hard to ensure flights are punctual, but sometimes delays occur.
"What is important to us is what airlines and airports do to minimise disruption, as well as comply with their legal obligations to look after passengers if something happens to their flight.
"We also advise consumers to ensure they know what assistance they are entitled to."
Gatwick Airport said it is "the world's most efficient single-runway airport, with flights departing or arriving every 55 seconds".
A spokesperson said: "Air traffic control restrictions in other parts of Europe have continued to impact the airport.
"Together with our airlines, we've put in place a robust plan ... to improve on-time performance further in 2025."
A Manchester airport spokesperson said it is "committed to doing everything in our power to support all our carriers to achieve the best possible on-time departure rates."
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