TUI Airways was the most delayed airline operating in the UK in 2025, with an average departure delay of 20 minutes and 24 seconds, according to an analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data by the Press Association. The worst-performing route with at least 100 flights was Birmingham to Zante, Greece, which recorded an average delay of 46 minutes.
Punctuality Study Scope
The study examined all scheduled and chartered departures from UK airports by 34 airlines that operated more than 2,500 flights in 2025. Cancelled flights were excluded from the figures. Jet2, Ryanair and easyJet performed similarly, with average delays around 15 minutes, placing them in mid-table.
Airlines' Response
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 added that TUI makes "a conscious choice" to operate flights "wherever possible, even if they are delayed, rather than cancelling them", to ensure passengers reach their destination. He noted that if TUI followed broader industry practices of cancelling flights more readily, its punctuality ranking would improve but at the expense of customers.
Overall Delay Trends
The average delay across all airlines in the analysis was 14 minutes and 48 seconds, down from 18 minutes and 18 seconds in 2024. Air India recorded the poorest performance for the second consecutive year, with an average delay of 36 minutes and 36 seconds.
Passenger Rights
CAA director Tim Johnson said long delays "can cause significant disruption and inconvenience for passengers" and that "there are rules in place to protect passengers." Airlines are expected to minimise the impact of delays by providing timely information and upholding passengers' rights. Depending on route distance and delay duration, passengers on flights departing from the UK are entitled to support including food, drink, communication, and overnight accommodation. They may also claim compensation of up to £520 if the delay cause is within the airline's control, such as an aircraft malfunction or pilot illness.
Most Delayed Airlines 2025
- Air India – 36 min 36 sec
- Blue Islands – 25 min 12 sec
- TAP Air Portugal – 23 min
- Saudia – 21 min 18 sec
- TUI Airways – 20 min 24 sec
- SunExpress – 20 min 12 sec
- Aurigny – 19 min 36 sec
- Pegasus Airlines – 18 min 36 sec
- Swiss – 17 min 54 sec
- KLM – 17 min 48 sec
