August Bank Holiday flight delay trends revealed

AirHelp analysis finds 12pm–4pm the worst time to fly Continue reading →

Passengers due to fly in the early afternoons of the August bank holiday weekend have been warned to expect flight delays and cancellations.

Trends and data from the last two years compiled by flight delays compensation firm AirHelp shows that 12pm–4pm is the worst time to fly, with more 15,000 passengers having been affected with flight delays and cancellations.

Holidaymakers are being advised to avoid travelling during the early afternoon. Passengers should plan their flights either early in the morning or overnight, to lower their chances of an affected journey.

Based on the number of on-time departures from the top ten UK airports ranked by volume of flights, Gatwick has experienced the highest volume of delays and cancellations during the last two August holiday weekends, with Luton following closely behind.

However, holidaymakers planning to fly from Bristol or Newcastle airport are least likely to expect an affected journey, as they have experienced the lowest amount of delays or cancellations over the past two years.

The total amount of compensation passengers are eligible to claim over the last August bank holiday weekend equated to more than £5 billion, up by £1 billion on 2015, the company claimed.

A spokeswoman said: “With the August bank holiday marking the end of the summer period, Britons often take advantage of the last bank holiday weekend before Christmas to enjoy a long weekend abroad.

“We know from previous years that airports will be expecting a surge of passenger arrivals, which could likely lead to delays or cancellations.

“Our research should hopefully give passengers a good indication ahead of planning their August getaway, and help them to enjoy their weekend with minimal issues.”