Civil aviation data reveals almost 46-minute average delays for Indian flag carrier in 2024
Air India has earned the unwelcome distinction of being the least punctual airline operating from the United Kingdom, with its flights departing nearly 46 minutes late on average last year, according to official Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data analysed by the PA news agency, reported scmp.com.
Gatwick to bengaluru route most delayed with over 1 hour average lag.
The report highlighted the Gatwick–Bengaluru route as the most affected, with 50 departures averaging a delay of 1 hour and 23 minutes.
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Consumer advocacy group ‘Which? Travel’ called the performance “completely unacceptable.”
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Editor Rory Boland criticised the airline for charging high fares while delivering unreliable service
The airline attributed the delays to “factors beyond our control.” Aviation expert John Strickland, however, pointed to systemic issues inherited from the pre-Tata era—such as underinvestment, lack of spare parts, and staffing shortages—as key reasons behind persistent delays. Air India, acquired by the Tata Group in January 2022, is still recovering from years of operational inefficiencies.
Despite these challenges, the airline has been expanding its UK operations significantly. Data from Cirium shows a 56% increase in Air India’s UK flights in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic levels, with projections indicating a 90% increase by the end of this year due to frequency boosts introduced in March.
The airline currently operates out of Heathrow, Gatwick, and Birmingham, offering services to major Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. While it has promoted its new Airbus A350 first class as a step towards premium service, industry experts stress that punctuality must be the core priority.
“You can have great meals and a great crew, but fundamentally you’ve got to operate an airline which is as punctual and reliable as possible,” Strickland noted.
