Analyzed data covering the period from January to September by Aviation experts at AirAdvisor has pinpointed the airline that was considered the ‘most unreliable’ for UK travelers in 2025, which may come as a surprise. According to recent figures released by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), TUI emerged as the airline with the lowest punctuality rate, with only 57.5 percent of its flights departing on time. In contrast, a lesser-known carrier shared the top spot with Virgin Atlantic as the most reliable, boasting an 81 percent on-time departure rate.
TUI, based on the available 2025 data, exhibited the worst average performance in terms of flight delays in the UK. Blue Airlines, now defunct, closely followed as the second least punctual airline, achieving an on-time rating of under 60 percent in 2025. Meanwhile, Swiss Airlines recorded a slightly better performance, with approximately 64 percent of their flights departing on schedule during the year.
Ranking the airlines based on their average punctuality from January to September 2025, at least two quarters of data were considered for the evaluation. TUI topped the list with only 57.5 percent of flights on time, followed by Blue Islands at 59.5 percent and Swiss Airlines at 64 percent. KLM and Jet2 achieved a 69 percent on-time rate, while Ryanair and Air France recorded 70 percent and 71 percent, respectively. easyJet, American Airlines, and Vueling followed closely with 72 percent on-time performance.
Virgin Atlantic and Loganair shared the crown for punctuality, with both airlines achieving an impressive 81 percent on-time departure rate in 2025. The overall average on-time performance for all carriers during the same reporting period stood at 72 percent, as reported by Birmingham Live.
The research conducted by AirAdvisor focused on the top 20 airlines handling the highest passenger volumes at UK airports each quarter, monitoring the percentage of flights that experienced delays based on CAA records. Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor, emphasized the significance of past performance as an indicator of an airline’s future ability to maintain on-time schedules. He highlighted TUI’s historical poor performance in quarter three, suggesting that airlines consistently meeting high on-time percentages during challenging periods are more likely to ensure punctuality during less busy times.
Radchenko also noted the decreasing trend in flight delays and cancellations in 2025, indicating a positive shift in the aviation industry towards pre-COVID levels of disruptions. Passengers affected by delays or cancellations may be eligible for compensation under UK government regulation UK261, potentially receiving up to £520 based on the circumstances of the disruption and the notice provided by the airline.
