image credit: wizz AIr
As fares rose, Wizz Air was named the worst airline for UK flight delays for the third year in a row.
The PA news agency analyzed Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) statistics to find that the low-cost operator’s UK airport departures were 31 minutes and 36 seconds late in 2023.
Turkish Airlines had the second-worst punctuality last year, averaging 28 minutes and 36 seconds.
Wizz Air claimed it has “significant improvements” but “still work to be done”.
The investigation included all scheduled and chartered UK airport departures by airlines with over 2,500 flights. Flight cancellations were excluded.
Next worst airline for delays:
• Tui—28:24
Air India—28 Min. 12 Sec
Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines25 minutes, 6 seconds
Air Portugal—23:48
Vueling—23:06
Swiss—22:48
• Air Canada takes 22 minutes, 6 seconds • BA takes 21 minutes, 36 seconds
Which consumer group? called airline passengers’ “outrageous position” of paying record fares for “unreliable services.”.
Last year, Irish carrier Emerald Airlines had the best average delay at 13 minutes and six seconds, followed by Virgin Atlantic at 13 minutes and 42 seconds.
All flight delays averaged 20 minutes and 42 seconds, down from 23 minutes in 2022.
Airports served by Wizz Air include Aberdeen, Birmingham, Gatwick, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, and Luton.
Despite dismal UK punctuality, the airline, which operates in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, saw passenger numbers reach a record 62 million in the year to March, up more than a fifth from 51.1 million the year before.
Wizz Air’s pre-tax profit was €341.1m (£290.4m) as ticket sales per available seat grew 11.2% year-over-year, similar to airline rate increases.
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