AUC unveils punctuality record of UK charter airlines

Mytravel Airways continues to set the benchmark for other charter carriers when it comes to punctuality, according to the latest figures from the Air Transport Users Council (AUC).

The AUC’s charter airline delay league table for summer 2006 season found that for the third year running MyTravel has improved its punctuality performance.

Furthermore, its percentage of flights delayed over an hour and its average delay are nearly half that of the overall average.

XL Airways and Monarch rated worst out of the major UK charters.

The UK league table, which does not include scheduled airlines, was as follows.

The first figures shows the number of flights delayed by over an hour and the second is the airline’s average delay.

Mytravel Airways UK 5.4% 14.1 minutes
First Choice Airways 8.8% 22.6 minutes
Thomsonfly 8.8% 24 minutes
Thomas Cook Airways 8.9% 21.8 minutes
XL Airways 13.9% 36.4 minutes
Monarch 16.7% 41.3%

AUC chairman Tina Tietjen said: “When we published our delay league table last year for summer 2005, we said we were looking for charter airlines to bounce back and improve their punctuality for summer season 2006 after two years of declining punctuality.

“Well, we are pleased to report that they have – just. Last summer saw a slight improvement in the overall charter airline punctuality performance compared to the year before. However charter airline passengers still suffered more, and, on average, longer, delays during the summer of 2006 than they had three years previously. “

The AUC called on airport staff to provide more information during delays.

“Frequent updates help to restore goodwill between passengers and airlines in what are often very tense and difficult situations for both passengers and front line airline staff,” it said.

According to the AUC, about half of all flight delaysin Europe are caused by air traffic control, but a significant proportion of the remaining delays are within the control of the airlines.

The table is based on an analysis of statistics routinely collected by the Civil Aviation Authority at Birmingham, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle, and Stansted .

It covers April-October and includes all routes with at least 50 flights during that period.

By Bev Fearis