Belfast airports among the most punctual across the UK new analysis shows

Belfast Telegraph - 21/04
Northern Ireland’s airports are amongst the most punctual across the UK, with Belfast City airport retaining its record as having the shortest average delay per departing flight.

The east Belfast airport recorded the best punctuality performance for the second year in a row, with a typical delay per flight of less than 12 minutes.

Belfast International airport was not far behind, with an average delay per flight of just 14 minutes and 42 seconds.

Meanwhile Gatwick has retained its position as the UK’s worst airport for flight delays, as it continues to suffer from air traffic control (ATC) disruption.

Departures from the West Sussex airport were an average of more than 23 minutes behind schedule in 2024, according to analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data by the PA news agency.

This represents an improvement from nearly 27 minutes during the previous 12 months but is longer than at any other UK airport.

Gatwick, which is the UK’s second busiest airport, was badly affected by ATC staff shortages across continental Europe in 2024, and suffered the same problem in its own control tower.

Flights from Birmingham airport had the second poorest punctuality record last year, with an average delay of more than 21 minutes.

In third place was Manchester airport, with 20 minutes.

Flight delays are often...
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