Revealed: Worst airlines for summer holiday delays – and it’s Wizz Air flights most likely to be grounded

As February is one of the busiest times of the year for summer holiday bookings, travelers should be aware of the airlines that experienced the most delays this past summer.

Wizz Air is the airline most likely to have its flights delayed due to the airline’s performance last summer, new research has found.

The study analyzed Civil Aviation Authority data on more than 385,000 flights in and out of the UK during the busy summer holiday months of June, July and August last year.

It emerged that the Hungarian airline operated more than 15,000 flights to and from the UK over the measured period, with two-thirds (66 per cent) – or 10,431 flights – arriving at least 15 minutes late. In addition, the airline experienced the longest average delay of any airline included in the study, with flights running an average of almost an hour late (55 minutes).

The survey, commissioned by fare comparison and financial advisory platform Forbes Advisor, found TUI Airways to be the airline with the second highest delay rate.

In the summer of 2022, the UK charter airline operated 24,970 flights to and from the UK, of which 15,340 or 61.3 per cent were delayed by at least 15 minutes. The study also found that the average delay of all TUI Airways flights in June, July and August was 46 minutes.

Lufthansa, meanwhile, is the third airline most likely to experience delays, after around half (49.3 per cent) of its flights to and from the UK in the summer of 2022 were delayed by more than 15 minutes. 23 minutes – is significantly less than Wizz Air and TUI Airways.

The fourth most delayed airline of summer 2022 was Air Portugal. The Portuguese airline, one of the smaller companies in the analysis, operated 2,161 flights to and from the UK in June, July and August last year, but almost half (48.5 per cent or 1,061 flights) were delayed, which resulted in an average delay time. of 25 minutes.

EasyJet, at number five, made the most flights of any airline in the list at 90,988 over the three months. A total of 44,144, or 47.8 percent, did not arrive on time, with an average delay of 29 minutes.

Ryanair took sixth place on the list. The airline operated 73,250 flights over the summer, of which 34,657 – 47 percent – were delayed by more than 15 minutes. Overall, it had an average delay time of 29 minutes.

Air France ranks seventh with 45.3 percent of its flights delayed by more than 15 minutes, with an average delay time of 24 minutes.

Jet2 was just down in eighth place with 45.1 per cent – ​​the UK carrier operated 35,720 flights with 16,160 flights delayed from June to August. The average delay time was 31.2 percent.

British Airways, on the other hand, ranks ninth with 44 percent – 27,469 flights out of a total of 60,955 – of flights delayed by more than 15 minutes.

In the summer of 2022, TUI Airways operated 24,970 flights to and from Great Britain, of which 15,340 were delayed by at least 15 minutes

Finally, Virgin Atlantic is in tenth place with 41 percent of flights delayed by at least 15 minutes.

Laura Howard, travel insurance expert at Forbes Advisor, commented on the study: “Although our data is retrospective, it serves as a useful reminder for holidaymakers in 2023 to understand their rights in relation to excessive frequent flight delays and cancellations.

“On medium-haul flights, such as to Spain, Portugal or Greece, the airline has a duty to take care of passengers who are delayed by more than three hours – regardless of the cause. Consider vouchers for free food and drinks or a hotel stay.

Lufthansa is the third airline likely to be delayed, after around half of its flights to and from the UK in summer 2022 arrived more than 15 minutes late

“If your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late – and it was the airline’s fault – you may be entitled to compensation of £350 per person. And if you are delayed more than five hours and no longer wish to travel, you are entitled to a full refund.

“However, for full protection against canceled and delayed flights, you need comprehensive travel insurance that also covers other contingencies such as:

“Policies compare cheaply to the cost of a holiday and buying at the time of booking gives you the best protection if you have to cancel your trip.

“However, always check the fine print as flight delay conditions vary – although it is often possible to increase cover for a slightly higher premium.”

MailOnline has reached out to Wizz Air and TUI Airways for comment.