Whether it’s when you’re checking the board in the departures lounge, waiting at the gate, or sitting on the tarmac, there’s nothing quite like finding out your flight is delayed.
New research has shed light on which UK airports have the longest delays on average – and it’s a Scottish airport that’s been named as the worst offender.
Aberdeen has ranked as the worst – with an average delay of 20 minutes over 6,757 flights studied – which is more than four minutes longer than any other airport.
In December 2023, the average delay for this airport was 26 minutes – and this month was used as a benchmark for the findings.
In second place was Ronaldsway Airport in the Isle of Man, where the average delays were 16 minutes over 2,391 flights. The average December 2023 delay was 22 minutes at this spot.
A popular London airport finishes off the top three. Gatwick saw average delays of 15 minutes for 58,762 flights studied in 2023 – while the average delay in December was 24 minutes.
Delays were a minute less at Manchester Airport, which ranked fourth at 14 minutes across 39,771 flights, while December’s average time waiting was 21 minutes.
Another London hotspot rounds off the top five, with Luton having average delays of around 13 minutes for 23,156 flights. Whereas Luton’s December delays came in at 19 minutes.
The top 10 includes two other London airports – Heathrow and Stansted – as well as Edinburgh, Teeside International and Bristol.
UK's worst airports for delays:
- Aberdeen – 20.70 minutes
- Isle of Man -16.22 minutes
- Gatwick – 15.47 minutes
- Manchester -14.02 minutes
- Luton – 13.58 minutes
- Heathrow – 13.56 minutes
- Edinburgh – 13.31 minutes
- Teeside International Airport – 12.51 minutes
- Bristol -12.44 minutes
- Stansted- 12.43 minutes
In a similar vein, the UK’s worst short-haul airlines have been named and shamed, with the key culprit receiving just one star out of five for customer service.
In other airport news, take a sneak peek inside the world’s largest airport set to open in 2030.
King Salman International Airport will be opening in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in seven years’ time and is anticipated to become the biggest airport in the world.
Your Daily Horoscope
Also, if you’re going on holiday soon, these UK airports have already binned their liquid rules.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
MORE : How the mystery of flight MH370 unfolded over 38 catastrophic minutes
MORE : Moment Boeing 737 engine bursts into flames in mid-air sparking emergency landing
MORE : Cruise ship worker ‘hid camera in cabin bathroom and stayed under bed to film girls’
Share this with