Tui named among UK’s worst airlines for flight delays

Tui has been ranked among Britain’s worst airlines for flight delays in a series of recent analyses based on UK Civil Aviation Authority data, highlighting growing concerns over punctuality as demand for overseas holidays continues to rise.

CAA data and consumer analysis put Tui near the bottom

Recent reviews of Civil Aviation Authority punctuality figures show Tui repeatedly appearing near the bottom of league tables for on-time performance among major airlines operating from UK airports. Media analyses of CAA records for 2022 found the carrier with average delays of just over 40 minutes on departing flights, placing it among the worst performers serving British travellers.

Subsequent reporting for the peak summer of 2022 pointed to Tui as one of the least punctual airlines from UK airports, behind only a handful of operators with longer average delays. Research based on hundreds of thousands of scheduled flights indicated that passengers flying with the airline were more likely than most to leave later than planned, particularly on popular leisure routes.

More recent comparative work using CAA data continues to show Tui struggling on punctuality relative to other UK-based carriers. Consumer advocacy coverage of flights operated between mid-2024 and spring 2025, for example, has identified the airline as the poorest performer for on-time departures among a group of six large UK airlines, despite an overall improvement in average delay times across the wider market.

Separate assessments of on-time percentages for carriers serving the UK have also highlighted Tui’s weak punctuality record. One independent ranking of flight performance for 2024 reported that the airline recorded the lowest share of on-time operations among UK competitors, underscoring the consistency of its difficulties in keeping to schedule.

How Tui’s delays compare with rival airlines

The context of Tui’s performance is a wider recovery in UK aviation in which many airlines are still operating less punctually than before the pandemic. However, published comparisons indicate that Tui’s delays are worse than those of many direct rivals competing for the same holidaymakers on short- and medium-haul routes.

Consumer organisation analysis of six of the UK’s largest carriers, including British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, Tui and Wizz Air, found that all were operating less punctually than they did in 2019. Within that group, Tui was identified as having the worst punctuality record, even as other large leisure-focused airlines managed to limit average delays more successfully.

Earlier rankings of airlines by average delay time for flights departing UK airports also placed Tui towards the bottom of broader lists that included both short-haul and long-haul operators. While some international carriers recorded even longer average delays, Tui’s position close to the foot of the table meant its performance compared unfavourably with many other mainstream brands familiar to British travellers.

At some airports, local reporting of performance metrics has reinforced this pattern. Documents examining on-time and delay statistics at London Gatwick, a key base for the airline’s UK operations, have shown Tui featuring among carriers with less reliable punctuality, contrasting with some rivals that achieve significantly higher rates of on-time departures.

Factors behind delays and industry-wide pressures

The reasons behind flight delays are often complex, and the available data typically does not distinguish in detail between causes under an airline’s direct control and those linked to external disruptions. Industry reporting on recent summers has pointed to a mix of staffing shortages, aircraft availability problems, air traffic control restrictions and congestion at busy hubs as contributors to longer waits for passengers across Europe.

Regulator commentary and airport reporting indicate that seasonal weather, strikes among air traffic controllers in other European countries and knock-on effects from crowded airspace have all played a role in UK delays over the last two years. Airlines, including large leisure operators, have at times attributed late departures to constraints in the wider aviation system, arguing that they do not always control the root cause of disruption.

Consumer groups, drawing on CAA data and separate air traffic information, have questioned how far such explanations account for the scale of delays experienced by passengers on some airlines. Analysis comparing airline claims with UK air traffic control statistics for 2025, for example, has noted that a very high share of flights reportedly faced no delay attributable to the national provider, suggesting that carrier-level factors, such as crew resourcing and aircraft scheduling, also play a significant part.

For Tui, the concentration of its programme on peak holiday periods and heavily seasonal destinations may make it more exposed to bottlenecks when systems come under strain. Analysts point out that charter and leisure-focused airlines that operate dense schedules in school holidays can be particularly vulnerable if there is little slack in fleets or crew rosters to absorb unexpected disruption.

What delays mean for UK holidaymakers

For passengers, Tui’s position near the bottom of punctuality rankings means a higher statistical chance of facing a late departure compared with choosing some rival airlines. While many delays still fall within relatively short time bands, civil aviation rules give travellers certain rights when flights arrive substantially behind schedule, depending on distance and the extent to which an airline is deemed responsible.

Public guidance based on UK and European regulations states that, for flights departing UK airports, compensation may be payable once delays reach several hours and are not caused by extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather or external air traffic control problems. In addition, airlines are generally expected to provide care and assistance, including refreshments and, where necessary, accommodation, when passengers are stranded for longer periods at the airport.

Consumer advocates have repeatedly urged travellers on delayed flights to check their eligibility for compensation and to challenge airlines’ explanations when they believe a delay stems from operational issues within the carrier’s control. In the case of Tui, individual accounts shared publicly in recent seasons describe passengers pursuing claims for significant hold-ups on long-haul holiday routes, often citing official flight timings and CAA rules in support of their cases.

Industry observers say the renewed focus on punctuality rankings, and Tui’s repeated appearance among the worst performers, is likely to increase pressure on airlines serving the UK leisure market to invest in more resilient schedules, additional spare aircraft and stronger customer care protocols. With overall average delays across UK departures now showing signs of gradual improvement, attention is expected to remain on those carriers that continue to lag behind the rest of the field.