And those delays are getting longer, the Civil Aviation Authority said.

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Thirty-seven per cent of flights were at least 15 minutes late — up from 17 per cent in 2020 and 2021, and 25 per cent in 2019.

The average delay hit 22 minutes last year — 60 per cent longer than 2019.

Two per cent of flights were cancelled, with May and June worst as the aviation sector failed to recruit enough staff to deal with rising demand.

Glasgow had the highest proportion of cancelled flights at 2.5 per cent, followed by Heathrow on 1.7 per cent.

More than 224million passengers passed through UK airports last year — still well down on pre-pandemic levels but “giving the industry a well-needed boost”.

CAA head of consumers Anna Bowles said: “More than three times as many people flew into and from UK airports last year compared with 2021, demonstrating a clear wish by consumers to return to travel as Covid restrictions were lifted, and giving industry a well-needed boost after a difficult few years.

“That bounceback in passenger numbers was at times overshadowed by the challenges that the aviation sector faced in the early summer of 2022, which saw an unacceptable level of flight cancellations and delays.

“We expect to see increased resilience and continued improved performance by airlines in 2023, giving passengers the experience they expect and the confidence to continue to return to travel.”