Wizz Air: Worst airline for flight delays revealed

Wizz Air was the worst airline for flight delays from UK airports final yr, an investigation has discovered.

The Hungarian provider’s UK departures have been a mean of 14 minutes and 24 seconds delayed in 2021, in accordance with evaluation of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) knowledge by the PA information company.

It operates short-haul flights from 10 UK airports together with Belfast Worldwide, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Gatwick and Luton.

Tui Airways recorded the second worst punctuality, with a mean delay of 13 minutes and 18 seconds.

This was adopted by British Airways (12 minutes and 42 seconds) – together with its subsidiary BA CityFlyer – Virgin Atlantic (12 minutes) and Loganair (11 minutes and 30 seconds).

The 2 most used airways by UK passengers, easyJet and Ryanair, have been among the many main performers when it comes to punctuality.

EasyJet had the second shortest common delay per flight of 4 minutes and 36 seconds, whereas Ryanair was in third place with six minutes and 6 seconds.

Solely Eire’s flag provider Aer Lingus carried out higher, with a typical delay of simply three minutes and 12 seconds.

The evaluation took into consideration all scheduled and chartered departures from UK airports by airways with greater than 2,500 flights. Cancelled flights weren’t included.

The common delay was eight and a half minutes per flight.

Evaluation by PA carried out earlier this summer time discovered that Birmingham was the UK’s worst airport for flight delays final yr.

Punctuality throughout the aviation business in 2021 was higher than earlier than the coronavirus pandemic because of the discount in flights attributable to journey restrictions.

However the state of affairs has deteriorated this yr, with workers shortages inflicting main issues for a number of airports and airways, resulting in tens of 1000’s of flights being cancelled.

Man Hobbs, editor of client journal Which? Journey, mentioned: “Whereas these findings are worrying, the truth has truly been far worse for a lot of travellers this summer time.

“Holidaymakers have confronted a barrage of disruption over the previous couple of months, and these newest figures solely serve to underline the necessity for pressing reform of the journey business.

“The Authorities should drop plans to slash passenger compensation for delayed and cancelled home flights.”

Paul Charles, chief government of journey consultancy The PC Company, mentioned: “Worsening flight delays have precipitated monumental stress to many customers during the last yr, in addition to monetary ache whereas ready for refunds and compensation.

“Airways, airports and air site visitors management groups must work collectively much more intently and be certain that flying turns into extra seamless and extra pleasant for us all.

“That can solely occur when workers shortages are correctly overcome and the aviation business can develop once more post-pandemic.”

Wizz Air was approached for a remark.