Flight delays in the U.K. hit a 14 year low
September 10, 2009
The Civil Aviation Authority has just released figures that show delays on U.K. flights have dropped significantly. Statistics were submitted by ten U.K. airports and the numbers show that more flights are taking off and landing on time more regularly than they have done for the past fourteen years.
‘Planes are described as being on time if they manage to leave or arrive at their stand within 15 minutes of the time announced on the schedule. In the second quarter of this year 82% of all scheduled flights were deemed to be on time. This figure is up from 71% for the same period last year. The figures are also up from 81% for the first quarter of this year.
Although this is good news some are quick to make the link between airline efficiency and a drop in the number of passengers. This year the figures for those boarding an airplane in the U.K. will drop by around 10%.
The amount of aircraft taking to the skies has also dropped dramatically with 9% fewer in June than in April. The Civil Aviation Authority is not willing to equate fewer flights with a rise in airline punctuality saying that strikes and the weather are among the many factors that can affect airport delays. A spokesman did say however that it would be possible to look at the statistics and make the assumption that the drop in the numbers of people flying could mean that airlines and airports were experiencing an ease in pressure which allowed them to perform better.
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