EasyJet, Ryanair, Air France: which airlines fared worst for late flights in 2024?

Low-cost airlines performed better than many traditional carriers in the annual report on late and delayed flights from air travel compensation group Flightright.

Flightright’s report looked at delays of over 15 minutes and flight cancellations for airlines operating in Europe between January 1 and December 13, 2024.

The worst-placed airline for delays during the period was TAP Air Portugal, which had a delay rate of 32.1% on 109,507 routes operated - or around one in three flights.

In second and third places were Jet 2 and easyJet, with 29.54% and 28.93% delays. 

Ryanair had the most delayed flights at 186,000 out of 980,000, but finished 14th in the rankings due to its high number of flights.

Despite struggling with strikes due to reorganising many of its flights through Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Air France performed better than expected, with delays on 23.4% of flights.

Traditional carriers lead in cancellations

In terms of cancellations, Lufthansa leads the rankings with a rate of 2.8%, or almost 13,000 cancelled flights out of 458,000.

Second place goes to British Airways (2.1% or 6,200 cancellations), ahead of KLM with 1.6% or 3,800 cancelled flights out of 229,000.

Air France cancelled 1.16% of its flights during the period.

“Over the year as a whole, it is Wizz Air Malta that proves to be one of the most reliable airlines in terms of maintaining scheduled flights. A low-cost operator, which will certainly come as a surprise!” said Flightright spokeswoman Imane El Bouanani.

“Of its 128,432 flights, only 372 did not leave the runway. Ryanair also performed well - ranking 21st - with only 0.17% of flights cancelled,” she said.

British Airways also scored the lowest overall rating, largely due to its reimbursement procedures and low customer satisfaction.

The right to compensation for delayed flights

“Any passenger departing a country in the European Union [to any destination] whose flight is cancelled for non-extraordinary reasons, or delayed for more than three hours, has the right not only to be assisted, re-routed and reimbursed, but also to compensation of up to €600,” said Ms El Bouanani.

Read more: Will French air traffic control strikes continue over Christmas?

After five hours of delays, passengers can withdraw from the flight and receive compensation (provided the airline has not offered alternative means of travel). 

In addition, airlines have a duty of care for passengers at an airport facing delays, including complimentary food and drink, and two telephone calls/emails/faxes. 

These provisions are allowed after two hours for a short-haul flight (up to 1,500km), three hours for a medium-haul (1,500km to 3,500km) or four hours for a long-haul (anything over this). 

If a strike delays your flight until the following day, the airline must provide accommodation (and the cost of travel there and back from the airport) for passengers.

You have up to six years to lodge a claim for compensation.