- Mr Plane Guy
- Oct 29
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 30
UK Flight Delays 2025: Which Airlines Are the Worst Offenders This Year?
By Mr Plane Guy, Plane Travel News & Reviews with Altitude
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click and buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It keeps this blog flying high (and fuels my overpriced airport latte habit). Thanks for your support!
Flights Delayed More Than Before the Pandemic, New Data Shows
If you feel like your flights are running later than ever, you’re not imagining it. According to new data from Which? and the Civil Aviation Authority, passengers flying with six of the UK’s biggest airlines are now facing worse delays than before the pandemic.
In the year to April 2025, every major UK airline performed worse than it did in 2019, with TUI, Jet2, easyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, and British Airways all seeing punctuality drop.
The Worst Airlines for Delays (UK Departures 2025)
Airline | On-Time Departures (2025) | 2019 Comparison |
TUI Airways | 59.2% | 67.2% |
Wizz Air | 66.0% | 66.8% |
Ryanair | 66.5% | 77.8% |
easyJet | 67.8% | 70.6% |
Jet2 | 68.0% | 81.8% |
British Airways | 68.7% | 71.5% |
TUI Tops the Delay Chart
TUI Airways ranked worst overall, with just 59.2% of flights leaving within 15 minutes of schedule, down nearly 8% from pre-pandemic levels.
If you’re flying TUI soon, check my full TUI Luggage Allowance Guide for packing smartly (and avoiding extra stress when delays hit).
easyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air, Low Cost, Lower Punctuality
All three of the UK’s biggest low-cost carriers saw noticeable drops in punctuality.
Ryanair fell from 77.8% to 66.5%, though still slightly better than its rivals.Check out my Ryanair Baggage Rules for 2025 to make sure you’re not caught off guard by their new cabin bag size changes.
easyJet managed 67.8% on-time performance, a slight dip since 2019. Here’s my easyJet Cabin Bag Guide if you’re flying orange soon. Have you been delayed with EasyJet? You may like this article
Wizz Air came in at 66.0%, with almost no improvement from 2019. See how it compares in my Wizz Air Baggage Guide.
British Airways & Jet2 Also Slide
Even the UK’s full-service airlines aren’t immune: British Airways slipped to 68.7%, and Jet2 saw the biggest fall of all from 81.8% to just 68%.
BA passengers might still prefer the comfort of the lounge while waiting it out, I’ve reviewed several, including The Best Lounges at Heathrow and Gatwick Airport Lounges: The Full Guide.
What’s Behind the Delays?
Airlines are blaming a mix of factors, including:
Staff shortages across airports and ground operations
Air traffic control strikes in Europe
Weather disruptions and slot congestion
Eurocontrol has confirmed some regions are running with 10–20% fewer controllers than needed.
Unfortunately, under UK law, airlines don’t owe compensation for delays caused by air traffic control issues, but consumer experts say it’s still worth filing a claim, especially if the reason isn’t clearly explained.
Plane Tip: Know Your Rights
If your flight’s delayed by more than three hours, and it’s the airline’s fault (not ATC or weather), you could be owed compensation of up to £520.
Always submit a claim directly with the airline or via Resolver, and keep all receipts if you’ve spent money due to delays.
Plane Tip: You can claim up to €600 / £520 under UK261 and EU261 laws if your flight arrives more than 3 hours late and it’s the airline’s fault.
With Airhelp its easy and hassle-free
They handle your entire claim, from kick off to compensation.
They take care of it
Guiding you through the essential documents, and they submit them for you.
Can save you time
You simply submit your documents online, they will take it from there.
No win, no fee
They handle all legal fees, and they will only charge a fee when you get paid.
Regular updates
You receive regular updates and answers to any questions you have
Final Boarding Call
Delays might be getting worse, but smart travellers can still make the experience smoother.Pack light, book lounges for comfort, and know your airline’s baggage policies before you fly.
👉 See my full airline guides for 2025:
Plane Travel News & Reviews with Altitude MrPlaneGuy.com
About Me
A former airline insider who’s swapped the jump seat for the window seat. I share honest reviews, travel hacks, and a few behind-the-scenes stories.
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Thanks for reading, UK Flight Delays 2025: Which Airlines Are the Worst Offenders This Year?
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