According to an analysis by the PA news agency of Civil Aviation Authority data, Air India secured the worst ranking for UK flight delays in 2024. The carrier’s departures from UK airports averaged 45 minutes and 48 seconds behind schedule throughout the year. The Gatwick to Bangalore route recorded the longest average delay across Air India’s network, with departures running one hour and 23 minutes late across 50 scheduled flights. Air India claimed the top spot for the longest time delays, followed by Aurigny Air Services, SunExpress, and Air Portugal.
The analysis included all scheduled and chartered departures from UK airports by airlines operating more than 2,500 flights annually, excluding cancelled services. The average delay across all analysed airlines decreased to 18 minutes and 18 seconds in 2024, down from 20 minutes and 42 seconds in 2023. However, Air India significantly underperformed industry standards, with aviation consultant John Strickland attributing the delays to the airline’s “poor reputation” for delays and cancellations before the Tata takeover.
Air India’s troubled history includes accumulating billions of pounds in losses under state ownership before being acquired by the Tata Group in January 2022. The airline operates UK services from Birmingham, Gatwick, and Heathrow airports, connecting to Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Despite plans to increase flight frequencies on several routes, Air India’s delays have been condemned as “completely unacceptable” by travel editor Rory Boland, who highlighted passenger frustration with unreliable services despite high airfare costs.
Air India attributed 2024 delays to “factors beyond our control” while highlighting operational initiatives to improve punctuality, including the deployment of new Airbus A350 and upgraded Boeing 787-9 aircraft on UK routes. The airline claimed significant improvement in on-time performance during the first three months of 2025, particularly on direct UK-India flights, reflected in improved customer satisfaction scores.
UK regulations entitle passengers to assistance, including reasonable food, drink, communication access, and overnight accommodation when flights experience delays. Passengers may claim compensation up to £520 from airlines when delays result from factors within the carrier’s control. The Civil Aviation Authority expects airlines to minimise delay impacts through timely passenger communication and proper adherence to passenger rights legislation, balancing operational realities with consumer protection requirements.