UK major airlines lag pre-pandemic punctuality, Which? analysis finds

New Which? analysis of Civil Aviation Authority data shows all six of the largest UK airlines posted lower on-time departure rates in 2024-25 than in 2019, the year before the pandemic. The study looked at departures within 15 minutes of the scheduled time to set off and focused on British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, TUI and Wizz Air.

Among the six, TUI was the weakest performer, with on-time departures averaging 59.2% in 2024-25, down from 67.2% in 2019. Wizz Air's rate fell from 66.8% in 2019 to 55.6% in 2023 before rebounding to about 66% in 2024-25. Ryanair's on-time rate was 77.8% in 2019, slipped to 63% in 2022, and stood around 66.5% in the most recent period. easyJet declined from 70.6% in 2019 to 67.8% in 2024-25. Jet2 tumbled from 81.8% pre-pandemic to 68% in 2024-25. British Airways moved from 71.5% in 2019 to about 68.7% in 2024-25.

Beyond punctuality, the analysis notes that there is not a straightforward link between delays and cancellations. British Airways was the most punctual among the six in the latest period, yet it also cancelled the most flights, while Jet2 ranked high on punctuality and reported relatively few cancellations.

Attitudinal explanations varied. Ryanair blamed air traffic control for the delays and has promoted a site dedicated to the issue. Eurocontrol said staffing is below the level needed in parts of the European network, while the UK's NATS said it is fully staffed and operating normally. Some observers also cited airspace closures linked to conflicts as a contributing factor.

Carrier responses emphasized different priorities. A TUI spokesman said punctuality is important but maintaining service and avoiding cancellations is the priority, noting it keeps spare aircraft in the fleet to avoid disruption. Wizz Air said delays are sometimes outside its control, but the carrier also highlighted its high flight completion rate and that it would rather delay than cancel. Ryanair said its on-time performance is still improving but declined to comment further on the Which? analysis. easyJet said it works to get customers to their destinations on time despite operating in highly congested airspace. British Airways did not respond to Which? by publication time.

The Which? study draws on data from May 2024 through April 2025 and uses departures within 15 minutes of the scheduled departure time as the key measure. The findings underscore ongoing punctuality challenges for the six largest UK carriers and spotlight questions about ATC capacity, flight cancellations, and how airlines manage fleets and schedules in busy airspace.