Flight delays worse than earlier than pandemic regardless of surge in fares

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Flight delays at UK airports was considerably beneath pre-pandemic ranges final 12 months regardless of a surge in air fares, new analysis has proven.

Authorities mentioned one of many largest challenges to punctuality final 12 months was air site visitors management disruption within the UK and throughout Europe.

System failures, workers shortages and strike motion affected flights all through 2023.

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) figures present simply 64% of flights departed or arrived inside quarter-hour of the scheduled time in 2023.

That’s up from 63% throughout the earlier 12 months, however down from the pre-coronavirus degree of 75% in 2019.

Within the ultimate three months of the 12 months, the airport with the worst punctuality was Gatwick, the place 63% of flights had been on time.

It was adopted by Edinburgh, Heathrow and Stansted, which every had a determine of 65%.

Figures from the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics present common air fares for flights to and from the UK between July and September 2023 had been 24% costlier than the identical interval a 12 months earlier.

Final month, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary predicted the airline’s tickets can be as much as 10% costlier this summer time in contrast with final 12 months because of delays within the supply of recent planes from Boeing.

The CAA mentioned it’s “reminding airports and airways of their obligations to passengers”.

Relying on the size of a flight delay, passengers could also be entitled to assist corresponding to food and drinks, in a single day lodging, different journey preparations and compensation.

CAA head of client Anna Bowles advised the PA information company: “As passenger numbers return to pre-pandemic ranges it is crucial that on-time efficiency continues to enhance to make sure that passengers obtain the service they deserve and anticipate.

“We additionally need to make it possible for passengers are protected by equipping them with important recommendation and making certain they’re conscious of their rights earlier than they go on vacation.”

The CAA additionally revealed that short-notice flight cancellations in 2023 had been on the highest degree for at the very least eight years, excluding 2020 when the virus disaster triggered main disruption to journey.

Some 1.8% of flights at UK airports had been cancelled inside 24 hours of the scheduled departure, in contrast with 0.9% in 2019.

Some 276 million passengers handed by UK airports throughout 2023.

That is a rise of 23% on the 224 million in 2022, and was 8% beneath the 2019 complete of 300 million.