EasyJet and Gatwick are the worst for delays

TRAVELLERS with budget airline easyJet are most likely to suffer long delays, a study has found.

And Gatwick, which specialises in charter holiday and leisure flights, is the worst of Britain’s airports for hold-ups.

The figures are based on a study of official data from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for the summers of 2015 and 2016.

These show that easyJet passengers had an average delay of 24 minutes and those leaving from Gatwick waited 27 minutes. While these average delays are frustrating, they are not long enough to entitle passengers to compensation. It is only due when a short-haul flight is held up for more than three hours. Even then airlines can make it hard to claim.

Consumer organisation Which? is calling for a change in the regime to ensure people who suffer delays, such as those caused by the recent meltdowns in the computer systems at British Airways, get automatic compensation. Spokesman Alex Neill said: ‘If you’re unlucky enough to experience a severe delay, compensation could be available and people should claim what they’re entitled to.

‘We want to see airlines introduce automatic compensation where possible so that passengers can quickly and simply receive the money they are owed.’

The research, by the BBC’s data journalism team, said Thomas Cook was second worst for delays, BA third and Thomson Airways fourth. The best airline was Aer Lingus with an average delay of 12 minutes.

Both easyJet and Gatwick said they were the victims of problems outside of their control, including air traffic control strikes across Europe and bad weather.

Hundreds of easyJet passengers were stranded on Madeira for up to two days this week when flights to Gatwick and Manchester were cancelled due to high winds. They were told they would have to wait up to a week before they could fly home.

BA also cancelled services. Across all airlines about 30 flights were affected although some still flew. An easyJet spokesman said it sent a rescue flight on Tuesday.