Flying anywhere right now is tricky business. With aviation strikes across Europe, passport-office walkouts and staff shortages, taking off on time has become more and more of a rarity.
And condolences, in particular, to anyone booked to fly with Wizz Air: you’ve drawn the short straw. It is apparently the worst airline of all for delayed departures. Through analysis of data by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), news agency PA found that the Hungary-based budget airline was an average of 46 minutes and six seconds behind schedule last year.
PA took into account flights from UK airports with companies that operate more than 2,500 flights annually. It didn’t take cancelled journeys into account.
This is the second year in a row that Wizz Air ranked bottom, though last time PA found that its flights were only an average of 14 minutes and 24 seconds behind. The airline operates from eight major UK airports, including London Gatwick, Edinburgh and Birmingham.
The research also found that May and June were the worst months for disruption last year as the aviation sector failed to recruit and train enough staff to cope with a surge in passengers after Covid-19 travel rules were relaxed.
Norwegian Air Shuffle was the most reliable airline, with an average delay time of 13 minutes and 42 seconds.
Paul Smith, CAA consumer director, said: ‘The CAA has regularly asked for stronger consumer enforcement powers, including the ability to impose fines on airlines.
‘We’ve already raised concerns about Wizz Air and are working closely with the airline to improve outcomes for consumers.’
Here are the ten worst airlines for flight delays in the UK, according to the analysis from PA:
- Wizz Air – 46 minutes and six seconds
- Tui – 40 minutes and 18 seconds
- Qatar Airways – 31 minutes and 48 seconds
- Turkish Airlines – 29 minutes and 30 seconds
- Pegasus Airlines – 27 minutes and 18 seconds
- Flybe – 26 minutes and six seconds
- Air Portugal – 25 minutes and 48 seconds
- Air Canada – 25 minutes and 18 seconds
- British Airways – 23 minutes
- Vueling – 22 minutes and 12 seconds
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