Why Flights Get Delayed, Who is Better and How to Stay One Step Ahead

I had settled into my seat and the plane was fully boarded. A woman behind me told the crew she felt too unwell to fly. Medical staff boarded, and she left the aircraft with them 20 minutes after our scheduled departure. Retrieving her luggage took another 20 minutes, and with our takeoff slot lost, we faced another 25-minute delay. Over an hour later, we finally took off.

This scenario is all too familiar for frequent travellers. The consequence of such delays is far-reaching. The next flight will likely be late, too, and the passengers won’t know why. They will blame the airline for poor management, but it’s not simple. Flying is complex, and many factors need to align perfectly. Coordinating passengers, crew, weather, equipment, and available slots is a complicated dance, and when one element goes wrong, it has a domino effect on subsequent flights. When they don’t, delays are inevitable, and unfortunately, passengers often bear the brunt of those delays without understanding the broader causes.

Why are planes delayed?

Globally, about one in five flights will be delayed by 15 minutes or more, and about one in a hundred will be cancelled. These are the common factors:

Adverse weather conditions, including thunderstorms, extreme winds, snow, or fog at your airport, destination, or en route or at the airport where your aircraft originated from
Airport Congestion, especially during peak travel times. As a result of limited runway slots and taxiways. This problem is widespread at major hub airports, where flights constantly arrive and depart. If a flight misses its Air Traffic Control designated takeoff or landing slots due to other delays, it may be forced to wait for a new slot, leading to further delays.
Crew availability can cause delays as regulations govern flight crew rest periods. On a recent flight out of Singapore, my departure was delayed by nearly a full day due to a lack of available crew. All the pilots on my flight came down sick, and obviously, Qantas had no spare A380 pilots lying around Singapore. The airline arranged for a new crew to fly in from Australia. They then had to rest before taking over the flight. While inconvenient, I can’t argue with a safe decision. It’s far better to have well-rested, healthy pilots flying my plane.
Technical difficulties, whether minor or major, can delay flights, as planes are complex machines. Even minor problems can cause delays, and a flight can be grounded when pilots and ground crew decide not to risk the aircraft. It amazes me when I hear passengers complaining about this.
Ground Operations: any delay in check-in, baggage handling, refuelling, cabin cleaning and catering, or passenger boarding can cause a departure delay.
Security protocols can lead to an airport being held back because of a suspicious item or person, or a credible threat against an aircraft.
Late boarding, whether from a passenger or group missing the boarding call, waiting for special assistance, or coming from a late connecting flight.

a group of people standing next to an airplane

Most Punctual and Unpunctual Airlines of 2024 by Region

Cirium has rated airlines for timeliness for 16 years. The punctual airlines, as identified by them are listed here with their most recent results. The least punctual come from other sources.

Asia-Pacific (about 100 airlines)
Most Punctual: Japan Airlines (JAL) – 80.9%
Next 9: #2 ANA (80.6%), Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, Thai AirAsia, Vietnam Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Cathay Pacific, #10 Qantas (73.9%)
Worst: Lion Air Indonesia (40.3% of flights on time)

Europe (about 50 airlines)
Most Punctual: Iberia Express (84.69%)
Next 9: #2 Iberia (81.6%), SAS (Scandinavian Airlines), Swiss International Air Lines, Lufthansa, Air France, Austrian Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Vueling, #10 Norwegian Air Sweden (76.0%)
Worst: Air Dolomiti (56.4% of flights on time)

Middle East & Africa (100 airlines)
Most Punctual: FlySafair (93.8%)
Next 9: #2 Oman Royal Jordanian, Saudia, Kuwai, Gulf, Qatar, Etihad, Emirates, #10 Flydubai (70.4%). Worst: Tunisair (41.4% of flights on time)

North America (50 airlines)
Most Punctual: Delta Air Lines (83.46%)
Next 9: #2 United Airlines (80.93%), Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Air Canada, #10 WestJet (70.99%).
Worst: Allegient

South America (50 airlines)
Most Punctual: Copa Airlines (88.2%)
Next 9: #2 Aeroméxico *86.7%), Caribbean Airlines, LATAM Airlines, Azul Airlines, Avianca, Gol, Aerolineas Argentinas, Sky Airline, #10 JetSmart Chile, (73.2%).
Worst: Cubana de Aviación (No official figure- believed to be less than 50% of flights on time)

Here is how I handle delays:

Plan to arrive the day before a major event – Don’t wait until the last minute.
If my flight is crucial, I check flightradar.com to see what the usual punctuality for the route and timings.
Book morning flights as delays accumulate throughout the day.
Allow extra time for connections.
Get Travel insurance that includes delays and cancellations
Check weather patterns at both departure and arrival locations, and if necessary, change to an earlier flight.
Skip checked bags – it means I don’t have to worry about your bag being re routed or delayed or having to wait for it
Turn up in time for check-in, security, and boarding
Use a flight tracker tool such as Flightly, TripCase, TripIt, and Kayak to monitor delays and adjust plans accordingly.
Act quickly when a flight is cancelled – don’t wait for the airline. I simultaneously use their app, call their support, and head to the information counter to see which response comes first
Carry a snack – I always have four protein bars with me, just in case I get hungry.
Pursue compensation through a service like AirHelp or directly through the airline.
Smile – Everyone else will be angry and stressed. Why join them?

How Can Airlines Handle Delays Better?

Regularly update passengers on delays to reduce stress and frustration. Over-communicate to ensure we passengers are informed at all stages of the delay.
Have roving staff available to help passengers and avoid lengthy queues, ensuring assistance is provided promptly.
Provide easy rebooking methods and options during delays or cancellations to minimize inconvenience.
Provide water to everyone immediately, and have supplies ready for these occasions. Be prepared with complimentary snacks and vouchers.
Ensure clear compensation policies are outlined on the website instead of hidden, and included in communications during significant delays to inform passengers about their options.