Consumer group Which? has named the worst airlines and routes for UK flight delays, highlighting Tui Airways among the top five worst performers. The most delayed Tui route was from Birmingham to Zante, Greece, with an average delay of 46 minutes.
Which? Reveals Worst Airlines for Punctuality
According to Which? analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data for 2025, Air India topped the list with an average delay of 36 minutes and 36 seconds. Blue Islands followed at 25 minutes and 12 seconds, TAP Air Portugal at 23 minutes, Saudia at 21 minutes and 18 seconds, and Tui Airways at 20 minutes and 24 seconds. Other poorly performing airlines included SunExpress, Aurigny, Pegasus Airlines, Swiss, and KLM.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, described the situation as “unacceptable” and urged airlines to improve. “Airlines must do more to support travellers during delays, including clearly communicating their rights and eligibility for compensation,” he said. He advised passengers to claim compensation if the airline is responsible and to escalate complaints if refused.
Birmingham to Zante: Most Delayed Tui Route
The Birmingham to Zante route recorded an average delay of 46 minutes, making it the most delayed among Tui flights. Passengers on delayed flights may be entitled to up to £350 compensation under UK and EU regulations, depending on the delay length and distance.
Aage Dunhaupt, Tui Group’s director of communications, said: “We fully understand that for holidaymakers, every minute counts. Minimising delays remains a top priority, and our teams work continuously to improve operational performance across our network.” He added that if Tui followed broader industry practices of cancelling flights more readily, punctuality would improve but at the expense of customers.
CAA and Industry Response
CAA director Tim Johnson acknowledged that long delays “can cause significant disruption and inconvenience for passengers.” He noted that rules exist to protect passengers, and airlines are expected to minimise delay impacts by providing timely information and upholding rights.
A spokesperson for Airlines UK, a trade body for UK-registered carriers, stated: “The vast majority of UK airline flights depart on time and CAA data shows customer satisfaction levels are at an all-time high. Most delays are the result of issues entirely outside airline control, such as adverse weather, forced reductions in the number of planes able to land and take off each hour, and industrial action.”
Full List of Worst Airlines for UK Flight Delays in 2025
- Air India – 36 min 36 sec
- Blue Islands – 25 min 12 sec
- TAP Air Portugal – 23 min
- Saudia – 21 min 18 sec
- Tui Airways – 20 min 24 sec
- SunExpress – 20 min 12 sec
- Aurigny – 19 min 36 sec
- Pegasus Airlines – 18 min 36 sec
- Swiss – 17 min 54 sec
- KLM – 17 min 48 sec
- Air France – 17 min
- Vueling – 16 min 54 sec
- Jet2.com – 16 min 36 sec
- Wizz Air – 16 min 12 sec
- Ryanair – 15 min 48 sec
- Aer Lingus – 15 min 30 sec
- Qatar – 14 min 54 sec
- American Airlines – 14 min 42 sec
- Eurowings – 14 min 36 sec
- Delta Airlines – 14 min 36 sec
- Emerald Airlines – 13 min 54 sec
- United Airlines – 13 min 54 sec
- EasyJet – 13 min 48 sec
- Turkish Airlines – 13 min 24 sec
- Lufthansa – 13 min 12 sec
- Emirates – 13 min 6 sec
- British Airways – 12 min 36 sec
- Finnair – 12 min 18 sec
- Loganair – 12 min 18 sec
- Norwegian – 11 min 48 sec
- Iberia – 11 min 36 sec
- Air Canada – 11 min 36 sec
- Virgin Atlantic – 11 min
- Scandinavian Airlines – 8 min
Passengers experiencing delays should check their eligibility for compensation and file claims with their airline. Which? advises escalating complaints if airlines refuse to pay.
