A UK airport has been named the worst in Europe for flight delays, according to new research, with three other British airports also featuring in the top 10. The study, conducted by airline comparison experts AirAdvisor, analysed data from over 9.5 million flights across 46 European airports in 2025.
Manchester Airport Tops the List
Manchester Airport secured the top spot, with 6.16% of its flights delayed by 60 minutes or more in 2025. The average delay duration was 116.7 minutes, nearly two hours. The routes most prone to delays from Manchester were to Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Dublin.
A Manchester Airport spokesperson responded to the findings, stating: "This analysis of the Civil Aviation Authority's data is misleading as it ignores important context. Punctuality is affected by factors outside an airport's control, such as industrial action affecting air traffic control in Europe and adverse weather. Airspace restrictions above conflict zones also had a significant impact, particularly for airports with extensive long-haul networks like Manchester."
Other UK Airports in the Top 10
London Gatwick was ranked sixth worst in Europe, with a 5.24% rate of hour-long delays and an average delay of 111.88 minutes. The most affected routes from Gatwick were to Barcelona, Malaga, and Lisbon.
Birmingham Airport placed joint tenth, with a 5.26% rate of hour-long delays and an average duration of 108.01 minutes. The most disrupted routes from Birmingham were to Amsterdam, Dublin, and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
A Birmingham Airport spokesperson commented: "Flight delays can occur for several reasons, including industrial action and bad weather, some of which are beyond our control. This month, over half of all aircraft departed on time, and we continue working to improve punctuality. Our staff provide excellent service, with most passengers rating their experience as excellent."
London Stansted also ranked joint tenth, with a 5.5% rate of hour-long delays and an average delay of 106.24 minutes. The most delayed routes from Stansted were to Dublin, Edinburgh, and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen.
A London Stansted Airport spokesperson said: "This analysis should be put into perspective. The data covers only 46 of over 340 major European airports, representing a small sample. The research, produced by a flight compensation company, focuses on delays over 60 minutes, often driven by air traffic restrictions, industrial action, weather, or airline operations rather than airport performance. We continue working with airlines and partners to reduce disruption."
Top 10 Worst Airports in Europe for Long Delays
- Manchester, UK
- Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Kraków Balice, Poland
- Nice Côte d'Azur, France
- Bucharest Henri Coandă, Romania
- London Gatwick, UK
- Porto, Portugal
- Marseille Provence, France
- Birmingham, UK
- London Stansted, UK
London Gatwick was also contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.
