London is the major airport where Christmas travellers are most likely to be stranded

Friday, December 15, 2023

New data highlights the UK airports with the highest Christmas flight cancellation rates over the past five years.

London City Airport led with a 3.78% cancellation rate, totaling 679 cancellations out of 17,980 scheduled flights. Aberdeen and Glasgow Airports followed closely at 3.73% and 3.19%, respectively. In contrast, Bristol Airport had the lowest rate at 1.39%, with only 237 cancellations out of 17,040 scheduled flights.

Travel insurance provider Loveit Coverit examined Civil Aviation Authority data for the top ten busiest UK airports, calculating the cancellation rate by comparing scheduled and canceled flights from 2017 to 2022. The analysis aimed to identify airports most prone to Christmas flight disruptions.

London City Airport experienced 17,980 scheduled flights with 679 cancellations, resulting in the highest Christmas flight cancellation rate. Aberdeen Airport had 24,266 scheduled flights, 904 cancellations, and a 3.73% cancellation rate. Glasgow Airport, with 20,505 scheduled flights and 655 cancellations, had a 3.19% cancellation rate.

Luton Airport saw 33,196 scheduled flights and 979 cancellations, yielding a 2.95% cancellation rate. Gatwick Airport, handling 71,794 scheduled flights, experienced 1,855 cancellations, resulting in a 2.58% cancellation rate. Heathrow Airport, the busiest with 151,090 scheduled flights, had 2,928 cancellations and a 1.94% Christmas flight cancellation rate. Manchester Airport followed with 51,227 scheduled flights, 970 cancellations, and a 1.89% cancellation rate.

Edinburgh Airport had 33,766 scheduled flights, 509 cancellations, and a 1.51% cancellation rate. Stansted Airport, with 53,925 scheduled flights, faced 790 cancellations and a 1.46% cancellation rate. Bristol Airport had 17,040 scheduled flights, 237 cancellations, and the lowest rate at 1.39%.

This analysis revealed London City, Aberdeen, and Glasgow airports as the top three with the highest Christmas flight cancellation percentages. Conversely, Bristol, Stansted, and Edinburgh airports demonstrated the lowest cancellation rates during the Christmas period. Heathrow and Manchester airports fell in the mid-range in terms of cancellation percentages compared to their total scheduled flights. Travelers should consider these insights when planning holiday travels to avoid potential disruptions.

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