Latest news with #AurignyAirServices
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Air India ranked most delayed airline after ‘completely unacceptable' record
Air India has been ranked the worst airline for UK flight delays. The carrier's departures from UK airports were an average of 45 minutes and 48 seconds behind schedule in 2024, according to analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data by the PA news agency. The route with the longest average delay was Gatwick to Bangalore, with an average of one hour and 23 minutes across 50 departures. Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, described Air India's performance as 'completely unacceptable'. The airline said the disruption was 'primarily due to factors beyond our control'. Guernsey-based Aurigny Air Services had the second-worst punctuality record for UK departures last year, with an average delay of 31 minutes and 12 seconds. It was followed by Turkish low-cost leisure airline SunExpress (29 minutes and 36 seconds) and Air Portugal (25 minutes and 12 seconds). Irish carrier Emerald Airlines recorded the best performance last year with UK departures delayed by an average of just 10 minutes and 30 seconds. The analysis took into account all scheduled and chartered departures from UK airports by airlines operating more than 2,500 of these flights last year. Cancelled flights were not included. The average delay for all these airlines was 18 minutes and 18 seconds, down from 20 minutes and 42 seconds in 2023. Air India was acquired from the Indian government by Tata Group in January 2022 after racking up billions of pounds of losses. The airline's UK operations are at Birmingham, Gatwick and Heathrow, with routes to a number of Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Data from aviation analytics company Cirium shows the airline operated 56% more flights from UK airports last year compared with 2019. This is projected to rise to 90% this year after increasing flight frequencies on several routes in March. Aviation consultant John Strickland said there has been 'a lot of work going on to put the airline back on track' after it gained a 'poor reputation' for delays and cancellations. This was partly caused by a lack of funds to purchase spare parts for aircraft, leading to some of its fleet being grounded. Mr Strickland said: 'They're coming out of this period of malaise pre-the Tata takeover, and now have to put in work on their engineering, manpower, spare parts holding, all those factors.' He said some of Air India's promotion of its new Airbus A350 first class product has focused on the quality of its service. He noted: 'You can have great meals and a great crew, but fundamentally you've got to operate an airline which is as punctual and reliable as possible. 'That's definitely a work in progress for them.' Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, said: 'These latest delay figures will come as no surprise to travellers, who can find themselves paying sky high amounts for air fares and in return receiving unreliable services. 'Air India had an average delay of 45 minutes. This is completely unacceptable. 'It's time for airlines to get their act together and start delivering the service their customers are paying for.' A spokesperson for Air India said: 'During 2024, Air India's flights to and from the UK experienced occasional delays, primarily due to factors beyond our control. 'Proactive operational initiatives like self-check-in, baggage drop and automated boarding process have ensured smoother airport touchpoint experience and faster turnaround of aircraft, boosting on-time departures. 'The deployment of the new Airbus A350 and upgraded B787-9 aircraft on some of the UK routes has also helped enhance punctuality of our flight operations. 'Over the first three months of 2025, Air India's on-time performance has seen significant improvement on our direct flights from the UK to India, which also reflects on our NPS (customer satisfaction) scores.' Depending on the distance of the route and length of delay, passengers booked on flights from UK airports that are running behind schedule are entitled to assistance such as a reasonable amount of food and drink, a means to communicate and overnight accommodation if required. Passengers may also be able to claim compensation of up to £520 from the airline if the reason for the delay is deemed within its control, which could be a fault with the aircraft or pilot sickness. CAA head of consumers Anna Bowles said: 'We expect all airlines operating in the UK to uphold high standards of service and reliability. 'While the majority of airlines have made progress in reducing delays, with the average falling, delays can cause significant disruption and inconvenience to passengers. 'Delays occur for many reasons, and we fully expect that airlines minimise the impact by providing timely information and upholding passengers' rights when it applies.'
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Air India ranked most delayed airline after ‘completely unacceptable' record
Air India has been ranked the worst airline for UK flight delays. The carrier's departures from UK airports were an average of 45 minutes and 48 seconds behind schedule in 2024, according to analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data by the PA news agency. The route with the longest average delay was Gatwick to Bangalore, with an average of one hour and 23 minutes across 50 departures. Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, described Air India's performance as 'completely unacceptable'. The airline said the disruption was 'primarily due to factors beyond our control'. Guernsey-based Aurigny Air Services had the second-worst punctuality record for UK departures last year, with an average delay of 31 minutes and 12 seconds. It was followed by Turkish low-cost leisure airline SunExpress (29 minutes and 36 seconds) and Air Portugal (25 minutes and 12 seconds). Irish carrier Emerald Airlines recorded the best performance last year with UK departures delayed by an average of just 10 minutes and 30 seconds. The analysis took into account all scheduled and chartered departures from UK airports by airlines operating more than 2,500 of these flights last year. Cancelled flights were not included. The average delay for all these airlines was 18 minutes and 18 seconds, down from 20 minutes and 42 seconds in 2023. Air India was acquired from the Indian government by Tata Group in January 2022 after racking up billions of pounds of losses. The airline's UK operations are at Birmingham, Gatwick and Heathrow, with routes to a number of Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Data from aviation analytics company Cirium shows the airline operated 56% more flights from UK airports last year compared with 2019. This is projected to rise to 90% this year after increasing flight frequencies on several routes in March. Aviation consultant John Strickland said there has been 'a lot of work going on to put the airline back on track' after it gained a 'poor reputation' for delays and cancellations. This was partly caused by a lack of funds to purchase spare parts for aircraft, leading to some of its fleet being grounded. Mr Strickland said: 'They're coming out of this period of malaise pre-the Tata takeover, and now have to put in work on their engineering, manpower, spare parts holding, all those factors.' He said some of Air India's promotion of its new Airbus A350 first class product has focused on the quality of its service. He noted: 'You can have great meals and a great crew, but fundamentally you've got to operate an airline which is as punctual and reliable as possible. 'That's definitely a work in progress for them.' Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, said: 'These latest delay figures will come as no surprise to travellers, who can find themselves paying sky high amounts for air fares and in return receiving unreliable services. 'Air India had an average delay of 45 minutes. This is completely unacceptable. 'It's time for airlines to get their act together and start delivering the service their customers are paying for.' A spokesperson for Air India said: 'During 2024, Air India's flights to and from the UK experienced occasional delays, primarily due to factors beyond our control. 'Proactive operational initiatives like self-check-in, baggage drop and automated boarding process have ensured smoother airport touchpoint experience and faster turnaround of aircraft, boosting on-time departures. 'The deployment of the new Airbus A350 and upgraded B787-9 aircraft on some of the UK routes has also helped enhance punctuality of our flight operations. 'Over the first three months of 2025, Air India's on-time performance has seen significant improvement on our direct flights from the UK to India, which also reflects on our NPS (customer satisfaction) scores.' Depending on the distance of the route and length of delay, passengers booked on flights from UK airports that are running behind schedule are entitled to assistance such as a reasonable amount of food and drink, a means to communicate and overnight accommodation if required. Passengers may also be able to claim compensation of up to £520 from the airline if the reason for the delay is deemed within its control, which could be a fault with the aircraft or pilot sickness. CAA head of consumers Anna Bowles said: 'We expect all airlines operating in the UK to uphold high standards of service and reliability. 'While the majority of airlines have made progress in reducing delays, with the average falling, delays can cause significant disruption and inconvenience to passengers. 'Delays occur for many reasons, and we fully expect that airlines minimise the impact by providing timely information and upholding passengers' rights when it applies.' Sign in to access your portfolio
The Independent
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Air India ranked most delayed airline after ‘completely unacceptable' record
Air India has been ranked the worst airline for UK flight delays. The carrier's departures from UK airports were an average of 45 minutes and 48 seconds behind schedule in 2024, according to analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data by the PA news agency. The route with the longest average delay was Gatwick to Bangalore, with an average of one hour and 23 minutes across 50 departures. Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, described Air India's performance as 'completely unacceptable'. The airline said the disruption was 'primarily due to factors beyond our control'. Guernsey-based Aurigny Air Services had the second-worst punctuality record for UK departures last year, with an average delay of 31 minutes and 12 seconds. It was followed by Turkish low-cost leisure airline SunExpress (29 minutes and 36 seconds) and Air Portugal (25 minutes and 12 seconds). Irish carrier Emerald Airlines recorded the best performance last year with UK departures delayed by an average of just 10 minutes and 30 seconds. The analysis took into account all scheduled and chartered departures from UK airports by airlines operating more than 2,500 of these flights last year. Cancelled flights were not included. The average delay for all these airlines was 18 minutes and 18 seconds, down from 20 minutes and 42 seconds in 2023. Air India was acquired from the Indian government by Tata Group in January 2022 after racking up billions of pounds of losses. The airline's UK operations are at Birmingham, Gatwick and Heathrow, with routes to a number of Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Data from aviation analytics company Cirium shows the airline operated 56% more flights from UK airports last year compared with 2019. This is projected to rise to 90% this year after increasing flight frequencies on several routes in March. Aviation consultant John Strickland said there has been 'a lot of work going on to put the airline back on track' after it gained a 'poor reputation' for delays and cancellations. This was partly caused by a lack of funds to purchase spare parts for aircraft, leading to some of its fleet being grounded. Mr Strickland said: 'They're coming out of this period of malaise pre-the Tata takeover, and now have to put in work on their engineering, manpower, spare parts holding, all those factors.' He said some of Air India's promotion of its new Airbus A350 first class product has focused on the quality of its service. He noted: 'You can have great meals and a great crew, but fundamentally you've got to operate an airline which is as punctual and reliable as possible. 'That's definitely a work in progress for them.' Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, said: 'These latest delay figures will come as no surprise to travellers, who can find themselves paying sky high amounts for air fares and in return receiving unreliable services. 'Air India had an average delay of 45 minutes. This is completely unacceptable. 'It's time for airlines to get their act together and start delivering the service their customers are paying for.' A spokesperson for Air India said: 'During 2024, Air India's flights to and from the UK experienced occasional delays, primarily due to factors beyond our control. 'Proactive operational initiatives like self-check-in, baggage drop and automated boarding process have ensured smoother airport touchpoint experience and faster turnaround of aircraft, boosting on-time departures. 'The deployment of the new Airbus A350 and upgraded B787-9 aircraft on some of the UK routes has also helped enhance punctuality of our flight operations. 'Over the first three months of 2025, Air India's on-time performance has seen significant improvement on our direct flights from the UK to India, which also reflects on our NPS (customer satisfaction) scores.' Depending on the distance of the route and length of delay, passengers booked on flights from UK airports that are running behind schedule are entitled to assistance such as a reasonable amount of food and drink, a means to communicate and overnight accommodation if required. Passengers may also be able to claim compensation of up to £520 from the airline if the reason for the delay is deemed within its control, which could be a fault with the aircraft or pilot sickness. CAA head of consumers Anna Bowles said: 'We expect all airlines operating in the UK to uphold high standards of service and reliability. 'While the majority of airlines have made progress in reducing delays, with the average falling, delays can cause significant disruption and inconvenience to passengers. 'Delays occur for many reasons, and we fully expect that airlines minimise the impact by providing timely information and upholding passengers' rights when it applies.'
Daily Mirror
27-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Tiny UK airport on island 'frozen in the 1970's' earmarked for £24m overhaul
This diminutive airport on a Channel Island captures the charm of a bygone era, but without urgent upgrades it could soon result in a 'tailspin' for Alderney's economy Alderney is the northernmost of the inhabited Channel Islands, with direct flights from the British mainland and a neighbouring isle serving as its primary economic lifeline. Part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the tiny island's only airport is often described as being 'frozen in the 1970s', but it faces an uncertain future — plans for a much-needed £24 million overhaul have been put on hold due to spiraling costs and political wrangling. With its 1960s-era terminal and ageing runway, Alderney Airport currently handles around seven flights a day, with Aurigny Air Services connecting its 2,000 residents to Guernsey and Southampton in 10 and 40 minutes respectively. It was the first airport to be built in the Channel Islands, and to this day offers just a single café and solitary shop where passengers can stock up on refreshments and supplies. However, decades of temporary repairs, costing an estimated £400,000 a year, are no longer enough to keep the runway up to the required safety standards. Recent warnings from the Civil Aviation Authority, as well as Alderney representatives Alex Snowdon and Edward Hill, have highlighted the 'very high risk' that the runway could soon fail to meet licensing conditions, potentially forcing a long-term closure. Such a scenario, the deputies warn, would quickly trigger a 'serious downturn' in Alderney's social and economic wellbeing. They told the Guernsey Press: 'Despite the twice-yearly significant patching and repair work undertaken by specialist contractors in recent years, Alderney Airport now faces a very high risk in the near future that it will not meet the necessary licensing conditions – primarily relating to safety factors — resulting at best in the introduction of more stringent and restrictive operating limitations, or perhaps more realistically a long-term closure of the airstrip. 'We cannot stress enough that any long term closure of Alderney Airport would rapidly lead to a serious tailspin of both Alderney's social and economic well-being — neither of which would be acceptable to the States.' Work due to start in 2028 The States of Guernsey approved an ambitious £24 million redevelopment in 2022, aiming to extend the runway for larger aircraft and replace the outdated terminal and fire station. But when the project went to tender, the lowest bid came in at £37 million — far above the agreed budget. As a result, the project has been paused while officials scramble to find a more affordable solution, with some estimates for even a 'do-minimum' option now ranging from £25 million to £55 million. This delay means work that was supposed to start in the spring of 2024 may not begin until as late as 2028, leaving Alderney's only airstrip in limbo. The States of Guernsey have committed to urgently reassess the project, with a new plan expected by the end of 2025, but the focus may shift to a more modest upgrade suitable for smaller planes. Long celebrated for its blend of charm and tranquility, Alderney's unique character is part of its appeal. Just three miles long and one and a half wide, it is known for its safe and peaceful atmosphere, where children can roam free and life moves at a slower, friendlier pace. But without a functioning airport, Alderney risks isolation, especially in winter when ferry services are unreliable. As the States of Guernsey debate the future of the isle's airport, the outcome will determine whether this time-capsule island can remain connected to the outside world, or whether it risks being frozen in time for all the wrong reasons.
