Wizz Air has been ranked as the airline most likely to be delayed in the UK for the second year in a row.
Most of us have let out a big sigh of annoyance when we're sat on the plane ready for take-off only to be told there's a delay and you'll be sitting on the tarmac for a while.
It can be frustrating and add a lot of extra time to your journey.
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Passengers flying from UK airports on Wizz Air were delayed by 46 minutes and six seconds on average in 2022, according to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data analysed by the PA news agency.
The Hungarian airline was also ranked last for punctuality last year, but Wizz Air's 2022 delays were on average three times longer than previously, reports the Mirror.
The big increase in delays for Wizz Air and other airlines came in a turbulent year as airports and the aviation industry started back up after Covid-19 lockdowns and travel bans.
Wizz Air operates short-haul flights from eight UK airports including Birmingham, Edinburgh, Gatwick and Luton with flights as cheap as little as £18 one way.
Tui was ranked in second for worst punctuality last year, with an average delay of 40 minutes and 18 seconds.
This was followed by Qatar Airways (31 minutes and 48 seconds), Turkish Airlines (29 minutes and 30 seconds) and Pegasus Airlines (27 minutes and 18 seconds).
Norwegian Air Shuttle recorded the best performance with an average delay of just 13 minutes and 42 seconds.
The analysis took into account all scheduled and chartered departures from UK airports by airlines with more than 2,500 flights. Cancelled flights were not included.
The average delay for all these flights was 23 minutes.
If you are desperate to avoid being stuck in an airport for any longer than necessary, than it may be wise to avoid travelling in the early summer.
May and June were the worst months for punctuality in 2022 as the aviation sector failed to recruit and train enough staff to cope with a surge in demand for holidays following the ending of the UK's coronavirus travel rules.
Full ranking of major airlines based on flight punctuality from UK airports:
- Wizz Air: 46 minutes and six seconds
- Tui: 40 minutes and 18 seconds
- Qatar Airways: 31 minutes and 48 seconds
- Turkish Airlines: 29 minutes and 30 seconds
- Pegasus Airlines: 27 minutes and 18 seconds
- Flybe: 26 minutes and six seconds
- Air Portugal: 25 minutes and 48 seconds
- Air Canada: 25 minutes and 18 seconds
- British Airways: 23 minutes
- Vueling: 22 minutes and 12 seconds
- Loganair: 22 minutes
- Jet2.com: 21 minutes and 42 seconds
- Air France: 21 minutes
- Swiss Airlines: 20 minutes and 48 seconds
- Emirates: 20 minutes and 36 seconds
- EasyJet: 20 minutes and 24 seconds
- Lufthansa: 20 minutes
- Eurowings: 19 minutes and 24 seconds
- Virgin Atlantic: 19 minutes
- KLM: 18 minutes and 30 seconds
- Delta Airlines: 18 minutes and 18 seconds
- Aer Lingus: 18 minutes and six seconds
- Eastern Airways: 17 minutes and 30 seconds
- American Airlines: 16 seconds and 48 seconds
- Blue Islands: 16 minutes and 42 seconds
- Aurigny Air Services: 16 minutes and 30 seconds
- Iberia: 15 minutes and 36 seconds
- SAS: 14 minutes and 30 seconds
- United Airlines: 14 minutes and six seconds
- Norwegian Air Shuttle: 13 minutes and 42 seconds
Rory Boland, editor of magazine Which? Travel, said: "These figures are worrying, but will be no surprise to passengers who've had to endure shoddy treatment from airlines for years."
A spokesman for trade body Airlines UK said: "The whole industry knows how important punctuality is for customers.
"Last year was not representative due to the late unwinding of Covid restrictions which required a very steep ramp up.
"Since then, the sector has invested huge resources into increased resilience for this summer and we can't wait to welcome people back for their well-earned breaks."
Wizz Air has been contacted for comment.
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