Cardiff Airport ranks best for hour-plus delays among UK's 20 busiest hubs

AirAdvisor evaluated the proportion of flights delayed beyond 60 minutes at the United Kingdom’s 20 busiest airports between September 30, 2025 and October 1, 2026. Cardiff Airport emerged as the most punctual, with just 3.6% of its services running late by an hour or more, matching London Heathrow’s low figure of 3.89%. At the opposite end, Manchester Airport recorded the highest delay rate at 7.73%.

Birmingham, Bournemouth, Southampton, London Stansted and Edinburgh also posted delay percentages above 6%. Anton Radchenko, chief executive of AirAdvisor, explained that airport punctuality is influenced by factors such as high winds and fog, which lie beyond airport control. He also highlighted passenger protections under the UK261 and EU261 rules, which can provide compensation up to £520 for arrivals delayed over three hours and entitlement to vouchers or hotel accommodation for longer disruptions. The report coincided with Cardiff Airport welcoming over one million passengers for the first time since the pandemic and being shortlisted for a Routes World Award.