Birmingham Airport has recorded the second-longest average departure delay among UK airports in 2025, with flights departing on average 18 minutes and 42 seconds late. This is nearly four minutes longer than the national average delay of 14 minutes and 54 seconds, and just 48 seconds behind Manchester Airport, which had the longest average departure delay.
The data, compiled by Ski Vertigo, analyzed scheduled and chartered departures from UK airports with at least 1,000 outbound flights in 2025, excluding cancelled flights. While the figures present average delays, they do not specify causes, which often include external factors such as air traffic control issues, weather conditions, and knock-on effects from earlier disruptions.
Bournemouth Airport ranked third with an average delay of 17 minutes and 18 seconds, while Liverpool John Lennon Airport enjoyed the shortest delays at nine minutes and 24 seconds on average.
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Across all 23 airports surveyed, average departure delays improved in 2025 compared to 2024, dropping from 18 minutes and 24 seconds down to 14 minutes and 54 seconds.
For travellers planning summer trips, punctuality can impact onward connections, transfers, and check-in timings, making these delay figures a useful—but not definitive—guide.
Alex Dyer, Managing Director of Ski Vertigo, advised passengers to allow extra buffer time for busy airports and not to assume every stage of their journey will proceed without issue. He emphasized the importance of checking live flight updates, retaining receipts for any extra expenses due to delays, and understanding airline obligations such as providing meals, communication access, or accommodation during significant delays.
Passengers experiencing delayed flights may be entitled to support from their airline, including food and refreshments, communication facilities, and overnight lodging if necessary. Compensation claims of up to £520 are possible depending on flight distance and delay length, but only if the airline is responsible for the delay. Weather-related disruptions and air traffic control issues often fall under “extraordinary circumstances,” where compensation is typically not granted.
A spokesperson for Birmingham Airport commented to BirminghamLive, “Flight delays can occur due to multiple reasons, many beyond our control, such as adverse weather conditions. We continue to work diligently to improve punctuality for our passengers.”