Fewer Flight Delays but More Misery For Gatwick Holidaymakers

Passengers are suffering fewer flight delays as airline punctuality has improved at all Britain's major airports, according to the Civil Aviation Authority.

Every one of the 10 airports surveyed increased its percentage of on-time flights (defined as no more than 15 minutes late) during the final quarter of last year, said the CAA.

Bad news for holidaymakers, however, is that charter flights from Gatwick saw an increase in average delays during the same period.

Though it won't help them get away on time, passengers with travel insurance can at least take comfort that they will receive compensation for lengthy delays. Travel insurance pays up to £300 for a travel delay.

Britain's biggest airport, Heathrow, recorded a 13% increase in punctuality between October and December 2008, when 73% of flights arrived or departed within 15 minutes of schedule.

Edinburgh airport was the most punctual airport ? 83% of flights were on time during the final quarter of last year.

The average delay suffered by scheduled airlines passengers fell by 4 minutes to 13 minutes. Charter passengers fared worse, being subjected to an average delay of 24 minutes, but this was 2 minutes less than in the same quarter of 2007.

At Gatwick, the average delay for charter passengers was 31 minutes, up by 2 minutes on the previous year.

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