LEEDS Bradford Airport has been revealed as being the joint second best airport in the UK for flight punctuality in a new survey.
The airport was ranked alongside Belfast City as having the second lowest average of delay times for departures – at 11.3 minutes – while the best performance came from London Heathrow, at 11 minutes.
The rankings, compiled from the analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data, take into account every scheduled and charter flight from 25 of the UK’s major airports. Cancelled flights are not included.
The average delay across all the featured airports was 15 minutes. London Luton had the worst figure, of 19.7 minutes.
Manchester Airport ranked joint seventh worst at 16.7 minutes, alongside Belfast International and London Stansted.
A spokesperson for Leeds Bradford Airport said: “We want to create an airport for Yorkshire to be proud of. The holiday experience begins when you get to the airport and we will strive constantly to improve it.”
A spokesman for the the CAA said: “Punctuality data enables passengers to “make informed choices about which airports they fly from.”
Referring to airports where the figures were less favourable, a spokesman for the Airport Operators Association (AOA) said “outdated” airspace infrastructure limited the efficiency of flights.
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“The UK needs to modernise its airspace,” he explained. “Airports are working with air traffic service providers and the Government to plan and deliver the necessary changes so everyone can continue to fly with a minimum of delays.”
Passengers on delayed flights from UK airports are entitled to assistance and compensation depending on the cause and length of the disruption.
When flights are delayed for more than two hours, airlines have to provide free access to phone calls or emails, meals and refreshments, as well as hotel accommodation if an overnight stay is required.
Passengers can also claim compensation when flights are delayed by more than three hours unless there are “extraordinary circumstances” such as a security alert.
Payouts range from 250 euro (£219) to 600 euro (£524) depending on the length of the flight and how long it was delayed.
Alex Neill, a managing director at consumer group Which?, said delays were “one of the most frustrating things about travelling” and urged passengers to “claim what they are entitled to”.
She added that airlines should introduce automatic compensation so people received what they were owed “without having to jump through hoops”.
The 25 airports, figure represents delays for departure, 2017:
1. London Luton 19.7 mins
2. London Gatwick 18.9 mins
3. Jersey 18.7 mins
4. Durham Tees Valley 18.6 mins
5. Birmingham 18.2 mins
6. Bristol 17.6 mins
7. Belfast International 16.7 mins
= Manchester 16.7 mins
= London Stansted 16.7 mins
10. Aberdeen 16.1 mins
11. Edinburgh 15.8 mins
12. Cardiff 15.7 mins
13. Glasgow 15.0 mins
14. Doncaster Sheffield 14.3 mins
15. Liverpool 14.0 mins
16. London Southend 13.5 mins
= Southampton 13.5 mins
18. East Midlands International 13.3 mins
19. Newcastle 12.8 mins
20. Bournemouth 12.3 mins
21. Exeter 11.9 mins
22. London City 11.6 mins
23. Belfast City 11.3 mins
= Leeds Bradford 11.3 mins
25. London Heathrow 11.0 mins
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