Air India has been ranked the worst airline for flight delays out of the United Kingdom in 2024, with passengers experiencing average hold-ups of nearly 46 minutes per flight. The findings, based on data from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and analysed by the PA news agency, were highlighted in a Bloomberg report that shed light on persistent punctuality problems within the airline’s global operations.
Now owned by the Tata Group after its 2022 acquisition from the Indian government, Air India recorded an average delay of 45 minutes and 48 seconds on departures from UK airports. The Gatwick-to-Bangalore service was the most delayed, clocking in an average lag of one hour and 23 minutes across 50 flights.
Air India’s UK presence spans major hubs including Birmingham, Gatwick, and Heathrow, offering connections to cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, the carrier expanded its UK flight operations by 56% in 2024 compared to 2019. Plans are underway to increase this figure to 90% in 2025, bolstered by new frequency schedules introduced in March.
Consumer watchdogs, however, have expressed mounting concern. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, labelled the airline’s performance “completely unacceptable”, voicing widespread dissatisfaction among UK travellers over the persistent delays, especially in light of rising airfare costs. “These latest delay figures will come as no surprise to travellers,” Boland said. “It’s time for airlines to get their act together.”
In response, Air India attributed the delays to systemic factors such as airport infrastructure limitations and air traffic congestion. The airline also pointed to improvements already implemented, including operational enhancements like self-service check-in, automated baggage drop, and streamlined boarding processes. A spokesperson noted that the introduction of next-generation aircraft such as the Airbus A350 and upgraded Boeing 787-9s was already beginning to enhance punctuality as of early 2025.
Nevertheless, industry analysts remain cautious. Aviation consultant John Strickland remarked that Air India continues to recover from a turbulent period defined by outdated fleets and equipment shortages. “They’re coming out of this period of malaise pre-the Tata takeover,” he said. “You can have great meals and a great crew, but fundamentally you’ve got to operate an airline which is punctual and reliable. That’s a work in progress for them.”
Air India was not the only carrier to struggle with delays. Aurigny Air Services, operating out of Guernsey, posted an average delay of 31 minutes and 12 seconds. SunExpress and Air Portugal were also among the least punctual, each averaging delays close to 30 minutes.
Conversely, Emerald Airlines led the rankings for punctuality, managing an impressive average delay of just 10 minutes and 30 seconds.
The CAA’s analysis considered over 2,500 scheduled and chartered flights per airline departing UK airports in 2024, with cancelled flights excluded. Encouragingly, the industry-wide average delay dropped to 18 minutes and 18 seconds—down from 20 minutes and 42 seconds the year before.
Anna Bowles, Head of Consumers at the CAA, reinforced the importance of transparency and passenger rights in the face of such disruptions. “We expect all airlines operating in the UK to uphold high standards of service and reliability,” she said, adding that passengers delayed due to issues within an airline’s control may be entitled to compensation of up to £520, depending on flight distance.
Bloomberg’s report concludes by noting the uphill battle Air India faces in repairing its global image, despite the infusion of capital into fleet modernisation, service enhancement, and procedural overhauls. The data paints a picture of an airline still grappling with operational inefficiencies—despite its ambitions to become a global player under new ownership.
