This year, UK airports have seen an increase in passenger traffic, while punctuality appears to have slowed somewhat. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) recently produced a new report which depicts a steady yearly growth in airport travellers across all of the UK.
Airports report slower punctuality
- Air transport movements (ATMs) increased by 1% compared to last year’s numbers, bringing this year’s ATMs to 560,000.
- Cargo tonnage also rose by 1% and averaged 689,000.
- Passenger load factor decreased from last year to 83%; the average delay went up to 14 minutes, a minute more than the year before.
- Flights that arrived or departed the gate within 15 minutes of the scheduled time were reduced to 74%, in comparison to last year’s 75%, overall showing a slight reduction in punctuality.
Further data from the CAA report shows that on-time performance (OTP) at UK airports continues to climb year on year.
Record-breaking year for UK airports
“Our aviation industry continues to show its strength and resilience, with record numbers of holidaymakers taking off this Spring, helping to support jobs, businesses and growth across the UK.”
Airports that experienced the highest proportional growth in the number of passengers were:
- Cardiff – which surged to 16%
- Newcastle – which increased to 8%
- Inverness – which grew to 8%
The most popular destinations to fly to in Q2 2026 were Amsterdam, Dublin, Palma de Mallorca, Malaga and Alicante.
What do you think about the new data? Let us know!
