Manchester Airport offers reasoning as it’s named the UK’s worst airport for flight delays

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A plane on the runway at the airport / Credit: Ivan Shimko (via Unsplash)

Manchester Airport has been revealed as the UK’s worst airport for flight delays, according to the latest figures.

But now, the airport has offered its reasoning in defence – saying it was ‘out of [our] control’.

According to annual analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data by the Press Association (PA), as reported on in many major news outlets like BBC, Sky News, and ITV, Manchester Airport came in last place – with flights running, on average, 19 and a half minutes behind schedule last year.

Manchester Airport – which is the third busiest airport in the country, and the only airport outside of London to have two runways – was used by more than 32 million people last year, and despite its placing at the bottom of the rankings again, did manage to at least secure a 30-second improvement compared to 2024.

The analysis took into account scheduled and chartered departures from the 23 commercial UK airports, with at least 1,000 outbound flights last year, and cancellations were not included.

These latest figures arrive as Manchester Airport is currently in the middle of revamping Terminal 3, and after having recently completed an extensive transformation of Terminal 2.

Manchester Airport offers reasoning as it’s named the UK’s worst airport for flight delays / Credit: MAG

Offering a statement in defence of its placement in the CAA rankings this year, a spokesperson for Manchester Airport said: “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.”

Top 10 worst UK airports for flight delays

  1. Manchester – 19 minutes, 30 seconds
  2. Birmingham – 18 minutes, 42 seconds
  3. Bournemouth – 17 minutes, 18 seconds
  4. Southampton – 16 minutes, 36 seconds
  5. Gatwick – 16 minutes, 24 seconds
  6. Newcastle – 15 minutes, 48 seconds
  7. Leeds Bradford – 15 minutes, 36 seconds
  8. Stansted – 15 minutes, 36 seconds
  9. Edinburgh – 15 minutes, 24 seconds
  10. Teesside – 15 minutes, 6 seconds

Other airports finding themself towards the bottom end of the rankings include Birmingham, with averaged delays of 18 minutes 42 seconds, Bournemouth, Southampton, and Gatwick.

Northern airports like Newcastle, Leeds Bradford, and Teesside also rank low.

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On the flip side, however, in a win for the North West, Liverpool John Lennon Airport had the most punctual flights out of any major UK airport – with an average delay of nine minutes and 24 seconds.

Featured Image – Ivan Shimko (via Unsplash)

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