The World’s Most Delayed Airports: A Guide to Help You Plan Better
When booking a flight, passengers often focus on choosing the right airline, price, and seats. But one crucial factor to consider is the airport, especially if it’s a layover or connecting point. Airports aim to ensure smooth operations, as delays can negatively impact their revenue and reputation. This article provides insights into the world’s most delayed airports and how you can plan your trip better to avoid disruptions.
What is OTP and Why Does It Matter?
OTP (On-Time Performance) is an important measure used in the aviation industry to assess how well airports and airlines handle flight departures. It’s based on whether a flight departs within 15 minutes of its scheduled time. For example, if an airport has an OTP of 97%, it means only 3% of its flights were delayed or canceled.
For passengers, OTP is key when planning travel, especially for important connections or events. Delays can have significant consequences if you’re trying to catch a connecting flight or reach an important engagement. For instance, if you’re flying to a cruise embarkation port and your flight is delayed, the situation can be manageable if there are multiple flight options. But if there’s only one flight per week to your destination, it can create major complications. Knowing an airport’s OTP can help you avoid such stress.
How OTP is Measured
Many organizations, such as the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) or independent agencies like OAG, Cirium, and IATA, collect and analyze data to determine OTP. Factors like weather, staffing shortages, technical failures, security issues, and late passengers all influence airport performance. Some of these factors are within the airport’s control, while others (like weather) are outside their control. A major incident on one day can significantly affect an airport’s OTP, which is why consistency is important.
The World’s Most Delayed Airports
Based on the AOG’s 2023 report, here are the top 10 airports with the lowest OTP, meaning they had the highest number of delays and cancellations:
- Frankfurt Airport (FRA), Germany – 39.27%
- London Stansted Airport (STN), UK – 42.18%
- London Luton Airport (LTN), UK – 43.21%
- Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS), Portugal – 43.79%
- Brussels Airport (BRU), Belgium – 43.84%
- Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL), Belgium – 44.62%
- Kuwait International Airport (KWI), Kuwait – 46.84%
- Munich International Airport (MUC), Germany – 48.09%
- Ninoy Aquino Airport (MNL), Philippines – 48.46%
- Larnaca International Airport (LCA), Cyprus – 50.63%
These airports had the highest combined delays and cancellations in 2023, leading to their low OTP ratings.
Airports with the Most Cancellations
While delays are an issue, some airports also saw a higher number of cancellations:
- Philip S.W. Goldson Airport (BZE), Belize – 24.92% of flights canceled
- Sultan Hasanuddin Airport (UPG), Indonesia – 14.34% of flights canceled
- Soekarno-Hatta Airport (CGK), Indonesia – 11.11% of flights canceled
Despite these high cancellation rates, these airports maintained a relatively better OTP compared to the worst-performing airports in 2023.
Top Performing Airports
It’s not all bad news—some airports are known for their excellent OTP:
- Brasilia International Airport (BSB), Brazil – 92.58% OTP
- Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM), Peru – 91.91% OTP
- Malta International Airport (MLA), Malta – 90.59% OTP
These airports have outstanding on-time performance, ensuring a smoother experience for travelers.
Tips for Planning Your Trips
Here are some useful tips to minimize the impact of delays and disruptions on your travel:
- Fly Earlier in the Day: Delays tend to accumulate throughout the day, especially at larger airports. If you fly early, you’ll have more options in case of delays.
- Get Travel Insurance: Insurance can help cover extra expenses if your flight is delayed or canceled.
- Allow Extra Time for Important Events: If you have important events like weddings, interviews, or concerts, consider arriving a day early to account for potential delays.
- Review Airline Policies: If you have connecting flights, make sure you know the policies of all airlines involved in case of delays or cancellations. This will help you understand your rights and responsibilities.
By being aware of the most delayed airports and following these tips, you can plan your travels more effectively and reduce the impact of disruptions. But if you find yourself dealing with a delayed or canceled flight, Aireclaim is here to help you claim compensation.
Safe travels!
