Air India has been designated as the UK’s most delayed airline for 2024, with its flights averaging almost 46 minutes behind schedule.
The details provided stem from an examination of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) statistics carried out by the PA news agency.
The study showed that the route from Gatwick to Bangalore experienced the longest delays, with an average lateness of more than 80 minutes across 50 trips.
Rory Boland, who works as the editor for the consumer magazine Which?,
Travel
, described
Air India
His performance was deemed “entirely unacceptable.”
The airline stated that the disturbance was mainly because of elements outside our control.
Guernsey
Aurigny Air Services ranked second-to-last in terms of punctuality for UK departures last year, with flights typically delayed by an average of 31 minutes and 12 seconds.
It was followed by
Turkish
Inexpensive vacation carrier SunExpress (29 minutes and 36 seconds) along with Air Portugal (25 minutes and 12 seconds).
Irish
Carrier Emerald Airlines had the strongest showing last year, with flights from the UK experiencing delays of only 10 minutes and 30 seconds on average.
The assessment considered all planned and contracted takeoffs from British airports by carriers that managed over 2,500 such trips in the previous year. Canceled journeys were excluded.
The typical delay across all these airlines amounted to 18 minutes and 18 seconds, which is a reduction from 20 minutes and 42 seconds recorded in 2023.
In January 2022, Tata Group took over Air India from the Indian government following significant financial losses amounting to billions of pounds.
The airline’s activities in the UK are currently
Birmingham
,
Gatwick
and
Heathrow
, with pathways to several Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore.
According to data provided by the aviation analytics firm Cirium, the airline increased its flight operations from UK airports by 56% last year when compared to figures from 2019.
It is expected to reach 90% this year following the boost in flight frequencies on multiple routes in March.
John Strickland, an aviation consultant, noted that significant efforts have been made to get the airline back on course following its “reputation decline” due to frequent delays and cancellations.
This issue was partially due to insufficient funding for buying replacement components for airplanes, resulting in part of its fleet being unable to fly.
Mr. Strickland stated, “Following their phase of stagnation prior to the Tata acquisition, they must now focus on improving their engineering capabilities, workforce skills, inventory management, and maintaining an adequate supply of spare parts.”
He said some of Air India’s promotion of its new Airbus A350 first class product has focused on the quality of its service.
He observed, “While excellent cuisine and a top-notch team are essential, ultimately, running an airline requires maintaining impeccable punctuality and reliability.”
“Definitely still under development for them.”
Rory Boland, the editor of the consumer magazine Which? Travel, commented, “The recent statistics regarding delays won’t be surprising to travelers, considering they often end up paying exorbitant prices for flights only to receive inconsistent service.”
Air India experienced an average delay of 45 minutes, which is entirely unacceptable.
It’s time for airlines to step up their game and begin providing the level of service their customers are paying for.
An Air India representative stated: “In 2024, the airline faced sporadic delays on flights to and from the UK, largely because of circumstances outside our control.”
“Proactive operational initiatives like self-check-in, baggage drop and automated boarding process have ensured smoother airport touchpoint experience and faster turnaround of aircraft, boosting on-time departures.
The introduction of the new Airbus A350 and improved B787-9 planes on certain UK routes has significantly boosted the reliability of our flights.
During the initial quarter of 2025, Air India experienced considerable enhancement in punctuality for our direct routes from the UK to India. This improvement is mirrored in higher NPS ratings, indicating greater customer satisfaction.
Based on the length of the journey and extent of delays, travelers who have tickets for flights departing from UK airports that are experiencing lateness can receive support including an adequate supply of meals and drinks, facilities to stay connected with others, and lodging options if needed overnight.
Travelers might also have the option to seek compensation amounting to as much as £520 from the airline if the cause of the delay is attributed to factors under its control, such as an issue with the plane or illness of the flight crew.
Anna Bowels, who leads consumer affairs at CAA, stated: “We require all airlines functioning within the UK to maintain high levels of service and dependability.”
Although most airlines have improved their performance in minimizing delays, resulting in an overall decrease in the average delay times, these hold-ups can still lead to considerable disruptions and annoyances for travelers.
Delays happen due to various causes, and we strongly believe that airlines should minimize their effects by offering prompt updates and respecting passengers’ rights whenever necessary.
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