A recent analysis of flight punctuality in the UK reveals that several major airlines are struggling with delays, with TUI Airways notably among the worst performers. According to data from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for 2025, TUI’s flights departed an average of 20 minutes and 24 seconds late, placing it fifth in the ranking of the least punctual airlines.
The Birmingham to Zante route in Greece was TUI’s most delayed, recording an average delay of 46 minutes across over 100 flights — one of the poorest punctuality records of any UK-based route.
Other popular carriers such as Jet2, Ryanair, and easyJet showed similar average delays in the mid-teens, generally around 15 minutes. Despite these figures, Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, called the ongoing delays “unacceptable,” urging airlines to do more in communicating passengers’ rights and handling compensation claims effectively.
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TUI Group, the parent company of TUI Airways and a leading package holiday provider in the UK, emphasized its commitment to minimizing delays. Aage Dunhaupt, TUI Group’s director of communications, highlighted their approach to operating flights even if delayed, rather than canceling, to reduce passenger disruption. He noted that while cancellations might improve punctuality statistics, they would have greater negative impacts on travelers.
Air India holds the dubious distinction of the worst punctuality record for the second year running, with average delays of nearly 37 minutes. This is followed by Blue Islands, TAP Air Portugal, and Saudia.
On the positive side, Scandinavian Airlines led the punctuality rankings with an average departure delay of just eight minutes, followed by Virgin Atlantic at 11 minutes.
Overall, the average delay across all airlines dropped to 14 minutes and 48 seconds in 2025, down from over 18 minutes in the previous year. Tim Johnson, CAA director, stressed the importance of airlines minimizing delays and supporting passengers through timely information and adherence to passenger rights.
Passengers affected by delays may be entitled to refreshments, communication access, accommodation if necessary, and compensation up to £520 when airlines are responsible for the delay due to factors like technical issues or crew illness.
Airlines UK, representing British carriers, acknowledged that most UK flights depart on time and highlighted that many delays stem from factors beyond airline control, such as adverse weather conditions, airport capacity limits, and industrial action. Nevertheless, airlines remain committed to assisting passengers during unavoidable disruptions.
Below is a snapshot of the worst-performing airlines in flight punctuality for 2025 (average delay time):
- Air India: 36m 36s
- Blue Islands: 25m 12s
- TAP Air Portugal: 23m
- Saudia: 21m 18s
- TUI Airways: 20m 24s
- SunExpress: 20m 12s
- Aurigny: 19m 36s
- Pegasus Airlines: 18m 36s
- Swiss: 17m 54s
- KLM: 17m 48s
TUI Airways’ commitment to reducing delays and ensuring passengers reach their destinations, even at the cost of punctuality rankings, illustrates the complex balance airlines must strike between operational efficiency and customer experience.