How Newcastle and Teesside Airports rank for delays revealed

Newcastle ranked eleventh worst out of 24 UK airports for delays in 2021, with passengers facing an average set back to their journey of seven minutes and 24 seconds, according to analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data by the PA news agency.

Teesside airport came up with the third shortest delays in the UK, less than five minutes at four minutes and 48 seconds.

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The ranking takes into account all scheduled and chartered departures, but cancelled flights are not included.

A spokesperson for Newcastle airport told The Northern Echo: “As the North East’s largest Airport, we do a number of things to ensure any delays to flights are kept to a minimum. This includes ensuring that the passenger journey is as efficient as possible and liaising closely with onsite business partners, such as Swissport, who work as ground handlers on behalf of our airlines.  

"However, there are also many reasons that a flight may be delayed which are outside the Airport’s control.

"This includes restrictions in airspace across Europe and at destination airports. At a time when the aviation industry was facing significant disruption as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are happy to see that delays were limited to 7 minutes and 24 seconds.

"We are delighted this year to see demand for international travel return and we continue to provide a positive experience for our passengers, despite the significant increase in numbers, this includes ensuring that year to date 98% of passengers have been able to pass through security in 6 minutes or less.”

Newcastle Airport. Picture: NQ STAFF

Birmingham Airport was the worst in the UK for delays last year with flights an average of 12 minutes and 24 seconds late in taking off.

Southampton Airport had the second poorest record, followed by Heathrow, Exeter and Aberdeen airports.

Meanwhile Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “These figures mean more great news for Teesside Airport and in fact, for the first three months of 2022, we’ve gone one better and ranked second for punctuality after our airport partner Belfast City.

"This proves in black and white that passengers flying from Teesside's transformed terminal building can be confident of a quick and easy start to their holiday.

“It's been a difficult couple of years, but we haven't rested on our laurels and we've continued to recruiting staff as our airport has grown.

"This has paid off massively, giving our airport the capacity needed to process the increased number of people we’re continuing to welcome this year for our most popular summer in years.

“We're continuing to look at new ways to reduce delays and we're working closely with our airline partners to make sure there are no issues at their end.

"Back in 2018, before we saved Teesside Airport from closure, it ranked 4th in a list of the UK's least punctual airports. This new position clearly shows that our plan to save our airport from years of neglect and underinvestment is working.”

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Meanwhile Leeds Bradford, which many North East travellers will be using this summer to get to their holiday destinations came in at tenth place, with flights delayed on average by seven minutes and 42 seconds.

Punctuality across all UK airports in 2021 was better than before the pandemic, due to the reduction in flights caused by travel restrictions however Jo Rhodes, an expert for consumer magazine Which? Travel has warned 2022 “has been a different story entirely” as the sector is struggling to cope with the spike in passenger numbers.

She said: “Holidaymakers have endured wide-scale flight cancellations as well as unacceptably long queues at check-in, bag drop and airport security.

“The Government must take action to restore consumer confidence in travel.

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“That should involve stronger powers for the CAA, including the ability to fine airlines directly when they break the law.

“Ministers should also drop their ill-conceived plans to slash compensation rates for delayed or cancelled domestic flights.”

Here is the full ranking of UK airports based on flight punctuality in 2021 - in order of worst to best

1. Birmingham (12 minutes and 24 seconds)

2. Southampton (12 minutes)

3. Heathrow (11 minutes and 48 seconds)

4. Exeter (11 minutes and 12 seconds)

5. Aberdeen (10 minutes and 36 seconds)

6. Doncaster Sheffield (10 minutes and 18 seconds)

7. Luton (nine minutes and 42 seconds)

8. Manchester (nine minutes and 30 seconds)

9. Glasgow (eight minutes and 30 seconds)

10. Leeds Bradford (seven minutes and 42 seconds)

11. Newcastle (seven minutes and 24 seconds)

12. Bournemouth (seven minutes and 18 seconds)

13. Edinburgh (seven minutes and 12 seconds)

14. Liverpool (John Lennon) (seven minutes and six seconds)

15. Cardiff (six minutes and 48 seconds)

16. London City (six minutes and 12 seconds)

17. Bristol (six minutes and six seconds)

18. Stansted (six minutes)

19. East Midlands International (six minutes)

20. Gatwick (five minutes and 54 seconds)

21. Belfast City (George Best) (four minutes and 54 seconds)

22. Teesside International (four minutes and 48 seconds)

23. Belfast International (four minutes and 30 seconds)

24. Southend (two minutes and 48 seconds)

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