Tui among worst as UK flight delays improve but still frustrate passengers

Passengers flying with Tui Airways last year faced average delays of 20 minutes and 24 seconds, placing the holiday carrier among the worst performers for UK flight punctuality, according to Civil Aviation Authority data. The airline’s most delayed route was from Birmingham to the Greek island of Zante, where the average hold-up stretched to 46 minutes. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, called the delays “unacceptable”, saying airlines “must do more to support travellers during delays, including clearly communicating their rights and eligibility for compensation”. He added: “It’s worth putting in a claim with your airline if you think it’s responsible – and escalating the complaint if it refuses to pay.” Under UK law, passengers delayed by more than three hours on certain routes may be entitled to up to £350. Aage Dunhaupt, Tui Group’s director of communications, said: “We fully understand that for holidaymakers, every minute counts. Minimising delays remains a top priority, and our teams work continuously to improve operational performance across our network.” He noted that the airline chooses to operate flights whenever possible rather than cancelling them, which ensures passengers reach their final destination. “If we were to follow broader industry practices of cancelling flights more readily, our punctuality ranking would improve significantly,” he said. “However, this would come at the expense of our customers.” Overall, the average delay across all airlines included in the analysis was 14 minutes and 48 seconds, down from 18 minutes and 18 seconds in 2024. Air India had the poorest record for the second consecutive year, with an average delay of 36 minutes and 36 seconds, while Scandinavian Airlines recorded the best performance, with UK departures delayed by an average of just eight minutes.