Cardiff Airport has recorded the lowest proportion of flights delayed by more than an hour among the UK’s 20 busiest airports, according to new research examining flight punctuality over the past 12 months.
Analysis by air passenger rights specialists AirAdvisor found that just 3.60% of scheduled departures from Cardiff Airport were delayed by more than 60 minutes between 30 September 2025 and 1 October 2026.
The figure placed Wales’ national airport ahead of every other airport included in the study, including London Heathrow, which recorded the second-lowest proportion of delays at 3.89%.
The findings provide a positive result for Cardiff Airport, highlighting its performance against some of the UK’s largest aviation hubs.
AirAdvisor examined flight data from the UK’s 20 busiest airports, excluding the Channel Islands, to establish the proportion of scheduled departures experiencing delays of more than an hour.
At the other end of the rankings, Manchester Airport recorded the highest proportion of delays, with 7.73% of departures running more than 60 minutes late. Birmingham Airport followed at 7.16%, with Bournemouth at 6.99% and Southampton at 6.94%.
The research found that the proportion of flights experiencing delays of more than an hour at Manchester was more than double that recorded at Cardiff.
For Cardiff Airport, the findings offer a positive measure of departure punctuality as it continues to compete for passengers and airline services in a highly competitive UK aviation market.
Reliable flight departures are an important consideration for both leisure and business travellers, particularly those making onward connections or travelling to time-sensitive appointments.
However, AirAdvisor cautioned that flight punctuality should not be treated as the sole measure of an airport’s overall reliability.
Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor, said:
“Flight punctuality at any individual airport is not necessarily an indication of an airport’s overall reliability. This is because factors sometimes completely outside of an airport’s control, like weather, particularly high winds and fog can lead to disruption.”
He also highlighted the protections available to passengers affected by significant delays under UK and European air passenger rights legislation.
Under the UK’s UK261 regulations, passengers arriving at their final destination more than three hours late may be entitled to compensation of up to £520, depending on the distance travelled and the circumstances responsible for the delay.
Passengers experiencing qualifying delays may also be entitled to assistance with food, refreshments and, where necessary, overnight accommodation.
