The UK's worst airport for flight cancellations revealed - as unlikely location takes the top spot
The UK's worst airport for flight cancellations has been revealed, as new data reveals which major airports axed the highest and lowest number of flights in 2024.
A new study conducted by flight compensation specialists, AirAdvisor, analysed scheduled departures from 20 of the busiest airports by passenger traffic across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland over the last two years.
It found that at all UK airports, the average flight cancellation rate in 2024 was 1.46 per cent - down slightly from 1.78 per cent in 2023.
At London's major airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City, the number of flights cancelled fell by almost 15 per cent between 2023 and 2024.
Despite this, Southampton emerged as the UK's worst major airport for cancelled flights, followed by Belfast City, London City, Aberdeen and Glasgow airports.
According to punctuality statistics cultivated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), 3.57 per cent of flights from Southampton were cancelled in 2024 - affecting a total of 853,000 terminal passengers.
The CAA defines cancelled flights 'as the non-operation of a previously planned flight, announced less than 24 hours before or after its scheduled departure time.'
At Belfast City Airport, 2.3 million passengers experienced cancellations in 2024 - with 3.31 per cent of scheduled flights axed, down from 3.50 per cent in 2023.
According to punctuality statistics cultivated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), 3.57 per cent of flights from Southampton were cancelled in 2024 - affecting a total of 853,000 terminal passengers
Cancellations at London City Airport stood at 3.13 per cent, affecting 3.5 million passengers, in 2024 - falling from 4 per cent the previous year.
Additionally, Aberdeen Airport and Glasgow Airport saw 2.7 per cent and 2.15 per cent, respectively, of flights cancelled in 2024, with 2.3 million and 8 million passengers' journeys disrupted.
On the other hand, AirAdvisor's findings unveiled five UK airports with the lowest cancellation rates in 2024 - with Bournemouth taking the top spot for the second year running with a rate of 0.08 per cent.
This was followed by East Midlands International at 0.39 per cent, Belfast International at 0.41 per cent, Luton at 0.58 per cent and Bristol at 0.66 per cent.
Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor, said of the findings: 'The UK aviation industry is still in something of a recovery mode post-pandemic, however there is light at the end of the tunnel.
'This is reflected by the average cancellation rates at most major airports decreasing, which is promising to see.
'At several airports around the country, cancellation rates are still more than double the national average. These airports and their airline partners simply must do better. And passengers deserve better.'
He added: 'Fortunately, British air passengers are protected by comprehensive legislation that entitles you to up to £520 in compensation if your flight to or from the UK, or with a UK or EU-based airline is cancelled with less than two weeks' notice, depending on the circumstances that led to the cancellation.'
At Belfast City, 2.3 million passengers experienced cancellations in 2024 - with 3.31 per cent of scheduled flights axed, down from 3.50 per cent in 2023
AirAdvisor's findings unveiled five UK airports with the lowest cancellation rates in 2024 - with Bournemouth taking the top spot for the second year running with a rate of 0.08 per cent
For customers whose journeys have been affected by cancelled flights, Radchenko advised using a free compensation calculator to establish any compensation that may be owed.
It comes as Gatwick has retained its unwanted title as the country's worst airport for delays – with departures last year running on average 23 minutes late.
The figures come as a busy summer holiday period looms and amid a warning from the travel industry that such delays risk leaving passengers feeling that they are not 'respected'.
The data is an improvement for Gatwick from nearly 27 minutes in the previous 12 months but it is still longer than at any other domestic airport, said the Civil Aviation Authority.
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