London Gatwick Airport has come top in the list of UK airports with the longest flight delays for the second year in a row.
The average delay at the airport in 2024 was 23 minutes, according to the PA news agency, which used Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data to compile the list.
PA’s analysis included scheduled and chartered departures from 22 commercial UK airports that had at least 1,000 departures in 2024.
The 23-minute delay at Gatwick Airport was four minutes less than the previous year (2023).
At the other end of the table, Belfast City (George Best) Airport was named the most punctual in the UK according to the research, with delays averaging less than 12 minutes for departing flights.
Flight delays at UK airports generally improved, with the average down from 20 minutes and 42 seconds in 2023 to 18 minutes and 24 seconds in 2024.
A Gatwick spokesperson said: “London Gatwick is proud to be the world’s most efficient single-runway airport, with flights departing or arriving every 55 seconds, serving around 220 global destinations.
“In the summer peak, we can handle more than 900 aircraft a day. In 2024, 59% of flights took off on time, with On Time Performance (OTP) improving by 4% compared to 2023. However, 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 – including the use of new technology such as our innovative Smart Stand – to improve OTP further in 2025.
“We are also the world’s first single-runway airport to adopt NATS’ new Intelligent Approach, providing a new way to separate aircraft landing at London Gatwick. Arriving aircraft are now separated by dynamically calculated time-based intervals, instead of traditional set distances, improving efficiency, reducing delays and boosting resilience.”
CAA director Selina Chadha 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.”
The full list of UK airports is:
Gatwick – 23 minutes
Birmingham – 21 minutes
Manchester – 20 minutes
Stansted – 19 minutes
Teesside – 19 minutes
Exeter – 19 minutes
Edinburgh – 18 minutes
Bournemouth – 17 minutes
Luton – 17 minutes
Cardiff – 17 minutes
Heathrow – 17 minutes
Newcastle – 17 minutes
Bristol -17 minutes
Southampton -16 minutes
Leeds Bradford – 16 minutes
Glasgow – 15 minutes
London City -15 minutes
Belfast International – 14 minutes
Aberdeen – 13 minutes
Liverpool – 12 minutes
East Midlands – 12 minutes
Belfast City – 11 minutes
