Flight punctuality improves at Leeds Bradford Airport in 2025

Between January and June 2025, 79 per cent of flights at the Yorkshire hub were on-time according to the CAA, up from 76.5 per cent across the first half of 2024.

The analysis, conducted by air passenger rights experts, AirAdvisor, found that across the same time period an average of 77 per cent of flights from all UK airports were on-time, meaning punctuality at Leeds Bradford Airport is better than the national average.

Between January and June of this year, 71.5 per cent of flights at Manchester Airport were on-time. At Birmingham, this figure stood at 72.5 per cent, also below the national average.

The major UK airport with the best flight punctuality rate according to the CAA’s data was Aberdeen where 83 per cent of flights were on-time in the first six months of this year. 82 per cent of flights at Liverpool were on-time, while both Belfast City (82.5 per cent) and Belfast International (81.5 per cent) fared well in the findings.

The CAA’s data assesses the percentage of flights from each airport that are on time. The CAA considers a flight as "on-time" if it arrives or departs from the airport gate within 15 minutes of its scheduled time. The CAA collects punctuality information from 25 UK airports - these are typically the largest airports in terms of passengers.

Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisorexplains: “Delays decreased at Leeds Bradford Airport in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year and the airport is performing above the national average in terms of punctuality, which should be commended.

“The picture in terms of flight delays is definitely improving across the UK. According to the CAA, only 72.5 per cent of UK flights in the first six months of 2024 were on-time, so the leap to 77 per cent in the same time period this year, is a marked improvement.

“In the years that followed the pandemic, flight delays rocketed to record highs due to airlines and airports struggling with staff shortages and supply chain issues that combined with a surge in demand for air travel. In 2022, for instance, the amount of flights on-time plummeted to

“Airlines, in particular, were caught between a rock and a hard place, because UK government legislation means that passengers can claim compensation if their flight is delayed due to a situation that an airline could have avoided.

“So, in recent years especially, it’s been in airlines’ interest to do what they can to reduce flight delays - and rightly so, especially when you consider how much more expensive most flights are now, compared to say, ten years ago.

“Likewise, airport managers want their hubs to be destinations where passengers begin unforgettable journeys in a comfortable and stress-free manner. Because of this, they also work to keep delays as low as possible.”

For the purposes of the CAA’s reporting the Channel Islands - Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney - and the Isle of Man are considered domestic aviation and their data is included, despite not formally being part of the United Kingdom.

UK’s top 10 worst major airports for delays in 2025 (lowest percentage of flights on-time)

Manchester - 71.5 per cent flights on time

Birmingham International - 72.5 per cent

Stansted and Bournemouth - 73.5 per cent

Bristol - 74.5 per cent

Teeside - 75 per cent

Newcastle, Gatwick and Jersey - 75.5 per cent

Exeter - 76 per cent

Edinburgh - 76.5 per cent

Southampton - 76.5 per cent

Cardiff - 77.5 per cent

… and the best (highest percentage of flights on-time)

Aberdeen - 83 per cent

Belfast City - 82.5 per cent

Liverpool - 82 per cent

Belfast International - 81.5 per cent

London City and Glasgow - 80 per cent

*Civil Aviation Authority Flight Punctuality data - Q1 and Q2 2025 (UK Arrivals & Departures) - https://www.caa.co.uk/data-and-analysis/uk-aviation-market/airports/uk-airport-data/uk-airport-data-2025/