Southampton Airport Tops UK Cancellation Chart Again

Southampton Airport has maintained its position as the UK's worst major airport for flight cancellations for a second consecutive year. Data from January to November 2025 reveals that approximately 2.98% of scheduled services at the south coast hub were scrapped. This figure is nearly three times higher than the national average for the period.

Overall, flight cancellations across the UK's 20 largest airports saw a decrease in 2025 compared to the previous year. The national average dropped from 1.45% in 2024 to 1.09% in the period analysed for 2025. Despite this general improvement, Southampton, Aberdeen, Glasgow, London City, and Heathrow airports all experienced cancellation rates above the national average.

Bournemouth Airport emerged as the best-performing airport, with an exceptionally low cancellation rate of 0.17% between January and November 2025. Other airports like Luton, Stansted, and Bristol also demonstrated strong performance with cancellation rates below half the national average.

Experts note that airlines, rather than airports, are responsible for flight cancellations, often due to factors like weather or technical issues. Under UK regulation 261, passengers whose flights are cancelled with less than two weeks' notice may be eligible for compensation ranging from £220 to £520. Refunds are also possible if flights are cancelled or delayed by over five hours.