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The worst airports in the UK for delays, according to experts

Gatwick has retained its position as the worst airport in the UK for flight delays (Gareth Fuller/PA)
Gatwick has retained its position as the worst airport in the UK for flight delays (Gareth Fuller/PA) (PA Wire)
  • Gatwick Airport remains the UK's worst for flight delays, with an average delay exceeding 23 minutes in 2024, though slightly improved from 2023.
  • Air traffic control (ATC) disruption, both in Europe and Gatwick's own tower, is a major contributing factor to the delays.
  • Birmingham and Manchester airports followed Gatwick with the second and third worst punctuality, respectively.
  • Belfast City (George Best) Airport had the best performance for the second consecutive year, averaging under 12 minutes delay.
  • While delays decreased overall compared to 2023, passenger rights for assistance and compensation remain crucial during disruptions.
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