Gatwick Airport Retains Title as UK's Most Delayed Airport in 2024

Persistent Delays Plague Gatwick for Second Consecutive Year

Gatwick Airport has once again been identified as the UK's most delayed airport, with flights departing an average of 23 minutes and 18 seconds late in 2024. Although this marks an improvement from the nearly 27-minute average delay recorded in 2023, Gatwick remains at the bottom of the UK's punctuality rankings. This data, compiled by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), underscores ongoing challenges at Britain's second-busiest airport, which serves over 40 million passengers annually.

Contributing Factors to Gatwick's Delay Issues

Several factors have contributed to Gatwick's continued struggles with punctuality:

Air Traffic Control (ATC) Staffing Shortages: Gatwick's control tower, managed by National Air Traffic Services (NATS), faced significant staffing shortages in 2024. These shortages led to mass cancellations during peak travel periods, notably in June and September.

Single Runway Operations: Operating primarily with a single runway limits Gatwick's capacity and flexibility, making it more susceptible to delays, especially during adverse weather conditions or unexpected disruptions.

European ATC Challenges: Broader issues, such as a shortage of air traffic controllers across Europe and limited investment in training by NATS, have exacerbated the problem.

Comparative Performance of UK Airports

While Gatwick struggled, other UK airports showed varying performance:

Birmingham Airport: Average delays of 21 minutes and 18 seconds.

Manchester Airport: Average delays of 20 minutes.

Belfast City Airport: Best performance with delays under 12 minutes.

Overall, UK flight delays improved by about 10% in 2024, averaging just over 18 minutes.

Initiatives to Improve Punctuality

The Guardian

In response to these challenges, Gatwick Airport has initiated several measures:

Staffing Resolutions: Efforts have been made to address ATC staffing shortages, with the airport reporting that these issues have been resolved.

Infrastructure Expansion: Plans are underway for a £2.2 billion project to introduce a second runway, pending government approval..

Technological Enhancements: Implementation of revised aircraft separation techniques and remote jet bridge control

systems to improve efficiency..

Passenger Rights and Recommendations

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) emphasizes that passengers should be aware of their rights during significant delays, including entitlement to assistance and potential compensation for delays exceeding three hours.

Looking Ahead

As Gatwick Airport continues to implement measures aimed at improving punctuality, passengers are advised to stay informed about their rights and to plan accordingly. The airport's efforts to address staffing issues, expand infrastructure, and enhance technology are steps toward reducing delays and improving the overall travel experience.