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Manchester Airport: UK's Worst for Flight Delays
26 Mar
Summary
- Manchester Airport had only 65.25% of services on time in 2025.
- This performance is significantly below the national average of 74.34%.
- Liverpool Airport led the UK with 80.75% of flights on schedule.
In 2025, Manchester Airport experienced the most flight delays among major UK hubs, recording only 65.25% of its scheduled services arriving or departing on time. This performance is substantially lower than the national average of 74.34% and marks a significant decline from earlier in the year.
While Manchester Airport struggled, other airports like Birmingham and Bournemouth reported 69% punctuality. Conversely, Liverpool Airport stood out as the UK's most reliable, with 80.75% of its flights running on schedule. Experts suggest that factors beyond air traffic control and weather, such as airline-specific issues, contribute heavily to these delays.
Official data from the Civil Aviation Authority defines an 'on-time' flight as one arriving or departing within 15 minutes of its scheduled slot. Manchester Airport has stated that the analysis is misleading, pointing to external factors like industrial action affecting air traffic control and adverse weather conditions as primary causes for disruptions.
