TUI Airways has ranked among the least punctual airlines operating from UK airports, according to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data analysed by the Press Association, as reported by The Independent.
The carrier’s UK departures in 2025 were delayed by an average of 20 minutes and 24 seconds, placing it fifth worst among airlines operating more than 2,500 flights in the period. The analysis covered scheduled and charter departures from UK airports and excluded cancelled flights.
The worst-performing TUI route, among those with at least 100 flights, was Birmingham–Zante, which was delayed by an average of 46 minutes.
Air India recorded the longest average delay for the second consecutive year at 36 minutes and 36 seconds. It was followed by Blue Islands, the Channel Islands regional airline that has now entered liquidation, (25 minutes and 12 seconds), TAP Air Portugal (23 minutes) and Saudia (21 minutes and 18 seconds).
At the other end of the scale, SAS was the most punctual for UK departures, with average delays of eight minutes, ahead of Virgin Atlantic at 11 minutes.
Overall, the average delay across airlines in the analysis was 14 minutes and 48 seconds, down from 18 minutes and 18 seconds in 2024.
CAA Director Tim Johnson said: “Flight delays can occur for many reasons, including factors both within and beyond an airline’s control. When lengthy delays happen, they can cause significant disruption and inconvenience for passengers.
“We recognise the impact this can have, which is why there are rules in place to protect passengers.
“Airlines are expected to minimise the impact of delays where possible, by providing timely information and upholding passengers’ rights during disruption.”
A spokesperson for TUI said: “We fully understand that for holiday makers, every minute counts. Minimising delays remains a top priority, and our teams work continuously to improve operational performance across our network.
“At TUI, our priority is clear – we focus on getting our guests to where they need to be, whether that’s their holiday destination or back home, even in challenging circumstances. This means we take the deliberate decision to operate flights wherever possible, rather than cancelling them.
“Cancelling a flight may remove it from delay statistics, but it does not remove the impact on customers. By continuing to operate flights, we help ensure customers reach their destination, rather than facing greater disruption and uncertainty.
“This approach is a conscious choice and part of our commitment to our guests – providing reassurance that, wherever possible, we will get them to where they need to be.”
The full list is:
1. Air India (36 minutes and 36 seconds)
2. Blue Islands (25 minutes and 12 seconds)
3. TAP Air Portugal (23 minutes)
4. Saudia (21 minutes and 18 seconds)
5. Tui Airways (20 minutes and 24 seconds)
6. SunExpress (20 minutes and 12 seconds)
7. Aurigny (19 minutes and 36 seconds)
8. Pegasus Airlines (18 minutes and 36 seconds)
9. Swiss (17 minutes and 54 seconds)
10. KLM (17 minutes and 48 seconds)
11. Air France (17 minutes)
12. Vueling (16 minutes and 54 seconds)
13. Jet2.com (16 minutes and 36 seconds)
14. Wizz Air (16 minutes and 12 seconds)
15. Ryanair (15 minutes and 48 seconds)
16. Aer Lingus (15 minutes and 30 seconds)
17. Qatar (14 minutes and 54 seconds)
18. American Airlines (14 minutes and 42 seconds)
19. Eurowings (14 minutes and 36 seconds)
=19. Delta Airlines (14 minutes and 36 seconds)
20. Emerald Airlines (13 minutes and 54 seconds)
=20. United Airlines (13 minutes and 54 seconds)
21. EasyJet (13 minutes and 48 seconds)
22. Turkish Airlines (13 minutes and 24 seconds)
23. Lufthansa (13 minutes and 12 seconds)
24. Emirates (13 minutes and six seconds)
25. British Airways (12 minutes and 36 seconds)
26. Finnair (12 minutes and 18 seconds)
26. Loganair (12 minutes and 18 seconds)
27. Norwegian (11 minutes and 48 seconds)
28. Iberia (11 minutes and 36 seconds)
28. Air Canada (11 minutes and 36 seconds)
29. Virgin Atlantic (11 minutes)
30. Scandinavian Airlines (eight minutes)
