Gatwick Airport passengers experience longest delays in the UK, BBC reveals

BBC News analysed aviation data and the routes and airports where customers faced the worst punctuality between January 2015 and March 2016.

The investigation found that Gatwick Airport passengers experienced the longest delay in the UK as they waited an average of 18 minutes beyond their scheduled time per flight.

In comparison, Heathrow had an average delay of 13 minutes per flight, with a larger number of flights than Gatwick, and delays averaged 11 minutes per flight from Newcastle airport over the same time period.

A spokeswoman for Gatwick Airport said: “We regret any delays our passengers experienced however several incidents beyond Gatwick’s control influenced the airport’s performance during this period, including numerous air traffic control strikes across European airspace, impacting the airport’s whole flight schedule including our long haul routes.

“Gatwick has more flights to Europe than any UK airport and can therefore be impacted disproportionately by events on the continent.

Luton Airport was second to Gatwick with delays averaging 14 and a half minutes beyond the scheduled departure time per flight.

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