- February has the lowest average flight delay time, with Liverpool John Lennon Airport offering the best punctuality for that month
- July has the longest average delays, but Southend Airport has the shortest delays during this month
- London City Airport offers the lowest average delay times overall
Based on new research, February is officially the best month to fly to avoid long delay times, when there was an average delay of only 10 minutes during 2023.[1] Meanwhile, July had average delays of 24 minutes in the study, making it the least punctual month for air travel.
Go.Compare analysed 2023 flight travel data for 25 UK airports to reveal the best time of year for reduced flight delays. It also analysed which airports offer the fewest delays for each month.
Winter emerged as the best season to travel, with February, November, and January topping the list for the lowest average delay times. Liverpool John Lennon, Southend, and East Midlands International Airport were the most reliable during these months, with average delays of less than 15 minutes.[2]
Best time of year for reduced flight delays:
| Rank | Month | Average delay (mins) | % Cancelled flights | Airport with the fewest delays | Average delay (mins) |
| 1 | February | 10 | 2% | Liverpool (John Lennon) | 6 |
| 2 | November | 12 | 1% | Southend | 8 |
| 3 | January | 13 | 2% | East Midlands International | 9 |
| 4 | April | 15 | 1% | Southend | 6 |
| 5 | May | 17 | 2% | London City | 12 |
| 6 | October | 18 | 2% | East Midlands International | 11 |
| 7 | September | 20 | 2% | Belfast City (George Best) | 13 |
| 8 | December | 20 | 2% | London City | 15 |
| 9 | March | 22 | 2% | Southampton | 11 |
| 10 | June | 22 | 2% | Exeter | 14 |
| 11 | August | 23 | 3% | Teesside International | 14 |
| 12 | July | 24 | 2% | Southend | 13 |
August and July proved to be the least reliable months for timely travel, with average delay times below 25 minutes. But if flyers do decide to travel during the summer months, Teesside International and Southend are the most reliable, offering average delays of only 14 and 13 minutes respectively.
Overall, out of all the airports explored, London City was crowned the most punctual over the whole of 2023, with the average flight delay time lasting only 13 minutes.
Rhys Jones, travel insurance expert for Go.Compare, said: “It’s clear that the off-peak months are better for flight punctuality. The summer months are incredibly popular among passengers. This, along with unpredictable summer weather, means that airports are more likely to suffer from delays.
“But our figures also show that some airports are more punctual than others. If you can, try to fly from an airport which sees fewer delays to minimise your chances of encountering setbacks.
“Making sure that you’re equipped to deal with unexpected delays is key. From organising travel insurance to knowing who to contact in the event of a delay, being proactive can ease the stress of unexpected disruptions so you can enjoy a smoother journey overall.”
More information about the research is available on Go.Compare’s website.
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