Southampton named worst UK airport for cancellations, for second yr working

For the second year in a row, Southampton Airport has been named the worst major airport in the UK for flight cancellations.

The amount of flights grounded at the south coast hub is almost three times higher than the national average.

Between January and November 2025, around three per cent of scheduled services at Southampton Airport were scrapped.

This was, however, a slight improvement compared to 2024, when 3.3 per cent of flights at the hub were cancelled. 

Other airports where the amount of grounded services was above the national average included Aberdeen (1.83 per cent of flights cancelled).

Also on the list were Glasgow (1.63 per cent), London City (1.48 per cent) and Heathrow (1.36 per cent).

Travel compensation specialists AirAdvisor analysed Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) flight cancellation data covering January to November 2025, the most up-to-date available.

AirAdvisor, who produced a report covering the research, found that in 2025, across the UK’s 20 largest airports by passenger numbers, cancellations fell compared to the same period in 2024.

Southampton Airport has been named the worst major airport in the UK for flight cancellations

Between January and November 2025, 1.09 per cent of flights at the UK’s 20 busiest airports were cancelled.

That was down from 1.45 per cent during the same period in 2024.

A leading air passenger rights expert is describing this as a ‘sigh of relief’ for flyers.

The CAA defines a cancelled flight as ‘the non-operation of a previously planned flight, announced less than 24 hours before or after its scheduled departure time’.

However, it is not the airports that cancel or delay flights, but instead a decision taken by the airlines operating the services. 

When it comes to which airport ranked best, it was Bournemouth Airport.

Here, only 0.17 per cent of flights were cancelled between January and November last year.

As a result, the airport has the best rating of the 20 hubs covered in the analysis.

Around three per cent of scheduled services at Southampton Airport were scrapped in the research time frame

Other airports that performed well in the rankings included Luton, Stansted, East Midlands International, Bristol and Belfast International.

Here, cancellations were less than half the national average.

Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor, explains: ‘Air passengers in the UK can breathe a sigh of relief as we head into 2026, with most trend data suggesting that flight cancellation rates at British airports are decreasing.

‘This is a testament to the effort being shown by airlines and airports to improve their standards, but also the importance of legislation that holds carriers to account for delays and cancellations that they could have avoided.

‘Under the UK’s 261 regulation, if your flight from or to the UK, or with a UK carrier, is cancelled with less than two weeks’ notice, you may be eligible for compensation. 

‘This compensation ranges from £220 to £520 per passenger, depending on the distance of the cancelled flight. 

‘For delayed flights, you may be due compensation when you are delayed more than three hours.

‘In addition to compensation, you may also be eligible for assistance before you travel, such as meals and hotel accommodation for flights moved to the day after you were due to travel.

When it comes to which airport ranked best, it was Bournemouth Airport. Here, only 0.17 per cent of flights were cancelled between January and November last year

‘If your flight is cancelled, or delayed for more than five hours, you can choose not to travel and receive a full refund of your ticket price.

‘During the pandemic and post-Covid, cancellations spiked significantly, but the CAA’s data suggest that generally speaking, the chances of your flight being grounded has fallen to the more’normal’ levels we saw in the years leading up to 2020.’

A spokesperson for Southampton Airport said: ‘An airline’s decision to reluctantly cancel a flight can be due to a number of factors, including weather issues, air traffic congestion, delayed arrivals or technical issues with aircraft. 

‘We will continue to work with our airline partners and their handling agents to support them in their operations.’

A spokesperson from the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: ‘We appreciate the impact it can have on customers when flights are delayed or cancelled, which is exactly why there are rules in place to protect passengers.

‘If a flight is delayed, the airline has a duty of care to look after its passengers, which can include providing food and drink, as well as accommodation if people are delayed overnight. If a flight is cancelled, passengers should be offered a refund or alternative travel arrangements at the earliest opportunity. This can include flights on other airlines, or a new flight at a convenient date.’