As millions of Brits start booking and heading on their 2026 getaways, fresh analysis of 2025 flight data reveals which UK airports were most plagued by cancellations.
The team at Luxury Group Stay delved into the latest Air Transport Movements data published by the Civil Aviation Authority, covering the whole of last year to uncover where travellers faced the highest disruption, and which airports proved the most reliable. An Air Transport Movement is defined as “any landing or take-off of an aircraft engaged in the transport of passengers, cargo or mail on commercial terms.”
The study examined all UK airports that recorded more than 1,000 of these commercial movements across 2025, comparing total flights with those cancelled to calculate cancellation rates nationwide.
At the top of the disruption league table sat Southampton Airport, where a striking 7.45% of flights were cancelled, nearly one in every 13 commercial movements. Of its 1,316 flights in 2025, 98 failed to take off or land as planned.
It was followed by Guernsey Airport, where 5.35% of services were cancelled, and Glasgow Airport, which saw 4.47% of its schedule grounded, amounting to 231 cancelled flights over the year.
Disruption was also notable at Belfast City Airport, where 3.62% of movements were cancelled, and at London City Airport, which recorded a 2.23% cancellation rate.
Worst 5 Performing Airports (Highest % Cancelled)
- Southampton Airport – 7.45% (98 cancellations from 1,316 movements)
- Guernsey Airport – 5.35% (72 from 1,345)
- Glasgow Airport – 4.47% (231 from 5,163)
- Belfast City Airport – 3.62% (89 from 2,461)
- London City Airport – 2.23% (85 from 3,813)
London’s bigger hubs prove more resilient
Although Heathrow recorded the highest number of cancellations overall, with 391 flights grounded, its cancellation rate stood at just 0.97% – less than 1% of its 40,294 annual movements.
A similar pattern emerged across the capital’s other major airports. Gatwick recorded a 0.80% cancellation rate, while Luton Airport and Stansted Airport posted even lower figures at 0.44% and 0.41% respectively.
Despite handling far heavier traffic, London’s largest airports were proportionally more reliable than several smaller regional hubs.
The airports that kept Britain moving
At the other end of the rankings, East Midlands Airport recorded the lowest cancellation rate in the country – just 0.32% – with only 9 flights cancelled throughout the year.
Close behind were Belfast International Airport at 0.45% and Norwich Airport at 0.58%.
Best 5 Performing Airports (Lowest % Cancelled)
- East Midlands Airport – 0.32% (9 from 2,779)
- Stansted Airport – 0.41% (59 from 14,412)
- Luton Airport – 0.44% (37 from 8,343)
- Belfast International Airport – 0.45% (17 from 3,760)
- Norwich Airport – 0.58% (6 from 1,027)
