UK airport most likely to delay your holiday this summer – not London

Data experts have analysed UK airport punctuality figures for the first half of 2025, ranking airports by the lowest number of flights recorded as on time

Plenty of us will be filling up our suitcases this summer ahead of a well-deserved holiday. Whether you’re a spontaneous booker or someone who organises trips months in advance, there’s always a thrill about heading to an airport.

Yet, not every journey runs as seamlessly as we’d hope. Data specialists at SEO Backlinks examined UK airport punctuality statistics for the first six months of 2025 and ranked airports according to the lowest proportion of flights departing on schedule.

The results serve as a useful reminder to factor in potential disruption when preparing to leave home.

Daniel Weston, spokesperson for SEO Backlinks, said: “Flight time and ticket price are usually the first things people compare, but punctuality can make a huge difference to the start of a holiday.

“If you are booking a tight connection, travelling with children or paying for airport parking by the hour, a lower on-time score can quickly become expensive and stressful.

“Passengers should check the latest airport and airline status before leaving home, keep screenshots of disruption notices, and know when they may be entitled to support or compensation if a delay is within the airline’s control.”

So which UK airport suffers the worst delays?

Manchester Airport is where British travellers are most likely to experience a departure that doesn’t stick to the timetable.

The airport ranked bottom of the table, with merely 71.5% of flights departing on time. That indicates 28.5%, or roughly one in four passengers, failed to leave within the punctuality standard.

Birmingham International came in as the second worst performer, with Stansted and Bournemouth joint third, both recording just 73.5% of flights departing on schedule.

While London airports didn’t monopolise the bottom 10, both Stansted and Gatwick featured in the rankings, highlighting that the problem isn’t confined to regional airports alone.

The top 10 UK airports most likely to delay your holiday are:

• Manchester, 71.5% of flights on time, 28.5% not recorded as on time
• Birmingham International, 72.5% of flights on time, 27.5% not recorded as on time
• Stansted, 73.5% of flights on time, 26.5% not recorded as on time
• Bournemouth, 73.5% of flights on time, 26.5% not recorded as on time
• Bristol, 74.5% of flights on time, 25.5% not recorded as on time
• Teesside, 75% of flights on time, 25% not recorded as on time
• Newcastle, 75.5% of flights on time, 24.5% not recorded as on time
• Gatwick, 75.5% of flights on time, 24.5% not recorded as on time
• Jersey, 75.5% of flights on time, 24.5% not recorded as on time
• Exeter, 76% of flights on time, 24% not recorded as on time

A Manchester Airport spokesperson told the Express: “This analysis of the Civil Aviation Authority’s data is misleading as it ignores important context – context which is directly referenced by the CAA in the notes accompanying the research and in the research itself. Punctuality is affected by factors that are outside of an airport’s control.

The two most significant factors contributing to delays in the last year have been industrial action affecting air traffic control in Europe, and the weather. These were exacerbated by airspace restrictions above conflict zones meaning airports with significant long-haul networks, like Manchester, were more significantly affected than others.

“As an industry we are working collectively to achieve the best possible on-time departure rates, while protecting flight schedules and avoiding the need for cancellations.”