Brits travelling this December have been alerted to the best and worst airports for the dreaded Christmas cancellations and delays, with people making their getaways from regional travel hubs most likely to see their plans disrupted.
Research from Good Travel Management has revealed that Teesside International Airport is the UK’s most delayed airport over December, with passengers last year experiencing an average delay of 37 minutes and 40 seconds. Almost a quarter of all flights were delayed by at least an hour. Despite serving only a few routes such as Lapland, Teesside also had the highest cancellation rate, with 6.8 per cent of flights grounded.
Aberdeen Airport follows closely behind, with more than 13 per cent of flights delayed by over an hour last December. The average delay at this airport was 30 minutes and 35 seconds.
Aberdeen has previously struggled with operational issues due to icy conditions. In December 2023, a vehicle collided with a British Airways plane on the tarmac, causing further delays and leaving some passengers grounded while engineers inspected the aircraft for damage.
Cardiff Airport, the UK’s least disrupted airport last December, offers a glimmer of hope to Christmas travellers. Despite handling over a million passengers annually, Cardiff boasts an impressive average delay time of just 7 minutes and 24 seconds—making it an exceptionally reliable choice for those looking to escape the festive frenzy, reports the Mirror.
With a hefty £206 million investment poised to enhance its facilities in the coming years, future journeys could become even smoother.
Laura Busby, from Good Travel Management, commented: “Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for travel, regardless of whether you’re flying for business or pleasure. While delays are frustrating, understanding which airports are most affected can help alleviate some stress.
“As these statistics show, delays are a reality of December travel, but knowing which airports are most likely to experience problems can help both business travellers and holidaymakers plan ahead, choose more reliable options and reduce stress during the festive period. For those looking to avoid lengthy waits, Cardiff and Southend are standout options for smoother journeys if available.”
Southend Airport, celebrated as one of the UK’s burgeoning regional hubs, also shines through with minimal delays, sporting an average wait of barely 12 minutes. .
Full list of most disrupted airports in December
(Airport, percentage of flights delayed by one hour, percentage of flights cancelled, average delay in minutes and seconds)
- Teesside International, North East England: 24.4%, 6.8%, 37:40
- Aberdeen, Scotland: 13.4%, 5.6%, 30:35
- Exeter, South West England: 12.5%, 0.9%, 26:03
- London Gatwick, South England: 11%, 2.2%, 23:44
- Jersey (Channel Islands): 11.6%, 0.6%, 23:12
- Liverpool, North West England: 11.1%, 1.1%, 22:25
- Isle of Man: 11%, 3.3%, 21:56
- East Midlands International, North England: 9.1%, 0.2%, 21:49
- Edinburgh, Scotland: 10.2%, 2.7%, 21:46
- London Heathrow, South England: 8%, 4.5%, 21:41
Full list of least disrupted airports in December:
- Cardiff, Wales: 1.6%, 6.1%, 07:24
- Southend, South East England: 5.6%, 0%, 12:08
- Bournemouth, South West England: 6.4%, 0%, 13:09
- Belfast City, Northern Ireland: 5.2%, 9.7%, 14:13
- Newcastle, North England: 5.3%, 3.5%, 14:35
- Southampton, South England: 6.5%, 5.6%, 15:11
- London Luton, South East England: 6.4%, 0.6%, 15:56
- Leeds Bradford, North England: 7.8%, 13.8%, 18:01
- Birmingham, North West England: 8.2%, 3.3%, 18:11