Few things spoil a holiday faster than hours spent waiting at the gate. For millions of UK travellers, that frustration has become the norm: data from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) shows that in 2025, the average delay for flights departing UK airports was 14 minutes and 48 seconds. While that seems manageable, some airlines and routes are far worse – and knowing your rights could put up to £350 back in your pocket.
The CAA's annual punctuality analysis covers all scheduled and charter flights from UK airports. The worst performer for the second year running was Air India, with an average delay of 36 minutes and 36 seconds. At the other end of the scale, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) had the best record, with an average delay of just 8 minutes. Among UK-based leisure carriers, Tui Airways ranked in the bottom five, with an average delay of 20 minutes and 24 seconds. Its most delayed route was Birmingham to the Greek island of Zante (Zakynthos), where flights were typically 46 minutes behind schedule. Tui operates from more than 20 UK airports and is owned by Tui Group, the country's second largest package holiday company.
“Explains UK flight delays, worst airlines, and compensation rights.”
The overall average delay improved from 18 minutes and 18 seconds in 2024 to 14 minutes and 48 seconds in 2025 – a drop of nearly 3.5 minutes. Yet consumer advocates say punctuality remains a serious problem. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, called the persistent delays “unacceptable” and stressed that airlines must “clearly communicate” passengers' rights to compensation. Under UK law, if your flight arrives more than 3 hours late and the delay is the airline's fault (not extreme weather or air traffic control strikes), you are entitled to £350 for flights over 1,500 miles, and £220 for shorter journeys. The rules apply to any airline flying from a UK airport, and to UK airlines arriving in the UK.
Tui's director of communications, Aage Dunhaupt, defended the company's performance, saying the airline chooses to operate flights rather than cancel them, which keeps passengers moving but worsens punctuality statistics. “If we were to follow broader industry practices of cancelling flights more readily, our punctuality ranking would improve significantly,” he said. However, consumer groups argue that airlines should still meet scheduled times and handle disruptions properly.
## Key questions answered
Q: Which UK airline has the worst flight delays? A: Among UK-based airlines, Tui Airways had the worst punctuality in 2025, with an average delay of 20 minutes and 24 seconds. Its worst route was Birmingham to Zante, averaging 46 minutes late.
Q: Can I claim compensation for a delayed flight? A: Yes. If your flight arrives more than 3 hours late and the delay is the airline's responsibility (not weather or strikes), you can claim £220 for flights under 1,500 miles or £350 for longer flights. Claims should be made directly to the airline, and you can escalate to the CAA if refused.
Q: What was the overall average delay for UK flights in 2025? A: Across all airlines analysed, the average delay was 14 minutes and 48 seconds, down from 18 minutes and 18 seconds in 2024.
## What happens next
The CAA's annual data puts pressure on airlines to improve. Which? Travel continues to campaign for better passenger rights and clearer communication during delays. Tui says it is working to minimise delays, but warns that prioritising cancellations over delays would hurt customers. With summer travel approaching, passengers should check their flight's punctuality history and remember they have rights – and potential compensation – if things go wrong.