Holiday excitement can quickly turn into frustration when travellers find their eyes glued to flight departure boards, as delays disrupt their plans. New research from Confused.com travel insurance experts has unveiled the most punctual airlines.
The airlines with the strongest on-time record at UK airports
How airlines operate plays a role in punctuality, from how they schedule flights and manage their crew to how they maintain their aircraft.
The research uncovered that SAS had the highest proportion of on-time arrivals and departures at UK airports last year. 84.6% of their flights were on time, with an average delay of just 7.4 minutes. SAS serves 11 destinations from 7 UK airports, including the scenic cities of Copenhagen and Oslo.
The American airline, JetBlue, landed in second place
The American airline, JetBlue, landed in second place with 82.6% of their flights on time in 2025. Passengers were held up by 11.3 minutes on average, and only 0.7% of their flights were cancelled.
The Virgin Group followed, flying to a grand total of 32 destinations from UK airports. Their on-time flight performance improved by 15% in 2025, compared to the previous year.
Travellers would pay for peace of mind
Following these findings, Confused.com surveyed 2,000 UK adults who have experienced a flight delay from a UK airport, to find out how their experiences shape their opinions towards the airlines involved.
Over 4 in 5 (83%) shared
Over 4 in 5 (83%) shared that an airline’s reputation for punctuality is important to them when booking a flight. More than half (54%) would also pay a premium to fly with an airline that has a strong record for being on-time. These travellers would pay £48.50 extra per person per flight, on average, while 30% would spend over £50 more.
Nearly half (49%) of respondents revealed that their experience of delays has decreased their trust in the airline(s) involved. Among those whose confidence was tarnished, 45% have avoided booking with that airline again and 32% have even told their friends and family not to use them.
Over two thirds of disrupted travellers aren’t claiming
Delays can derail a holiday, with 1 in 5 (20%) respondents missing the entire first day of their trip, while others missed connecting flights and pre-booked onward journeys, like taxis and trains. Despite these disruptions, only 1 in 3 (32%) reported making a claim. Of those who claimed, 75% did so through the airline, while 21% turned to their travel insurance.
Travel insurance expert at Confused.com, Tom Vaughan, comments:
Travel insurance expert at Confused.com, Tom Vaughan, comments:
“If you are caught out by delays, it’s important to know your rights. For flights covered by UK passenger rights (UK261) – which includes flights departing UK airports and returning to the UK on a UK or EU airline(1) – the airline has a duty to care for you while you wait, including by providing food and drink. The point at which this applies depends on your flight distance – the threshold is at least 2 hours after the scheduled departure time for flights travelling less than 1,500km, at least 3 hours for flights between 1,500km and 3,500km, and at least 4 hours for longer flights (over 3,500km)(2).
“In terms of financial compensation, you may be entitled to a pay out if you reach your destination over 3 hours late and it was the airline’s fault. The specific amount depends on the flight distance; you could receive £350 per person if the flight was between 1,500km and 3,500km. You won’t receive this pay out automatically, so you must submit a claim to the airline.
“If the delay is caused by a scenario outside of the airline’s control, they typically aren’t required to offer compensation. Cover for disruptions is also not a standard part of travel insurance policies. This is where travel disruption cover – an add on to standard travel insurance – can step in. Travel disruption cover offers protection in a range of scenarios, including bad weather, natural disasters and unforeseen travel bans. Exactly what’s covered will depend on each individual policy, so always check the terms and conditions and select the option that suits your needs.”
