Summary
- London City Airport has the highest rate of flight cancelations during Christmas, at 3.78%.
- Aberdeen Airport and Glasgow Airport closely follow with cancelation rates of 3.73% and 3.19% respectively.
- Weather disruptions, such as heavy snowfall, can cause flight delays and cancelations at UK airports.
The winter holidays are one of the most lucrative periods for airlines, following the summer season, as many people travel to visit loved ones during this festive time. However, the heightened activity during this period occasionally leads to flight cancelations due to the sheer volume of travel and, in most cases, bad weather conditions.
According to a report from the travel insurance company Loveit Coverit, certain UK airports are more prone to flight cancelations during the Christmas period than others. By comparing the number of scheduled flights to the number of cancelations at the top ten busiest UK airports, they calculated the percentage of cancelations at each airport. Here are the airports that are most likely to cancel your flight over Christmas.
London City Airport in the spotlight
Having examined data from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on the busiest airports in the UK between the years 2017 and 2023, it was identified that London City Airport (LCY) has the least favorable record during the Christmas period.
LCY stands out with the highest rate of Christmas flight cancelations among UK airports in the last five years, registering at 3.78%. This figure translates to a total of 679 cancelations out of 17,980 scheduled flights during the specified period.
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Aberdeen Airport (ABZ) closely trailed with 24,266 scheduled flights, experiencing 904 cancelations, resulting in a cancelation rate of 3.73% during Christmas. Meanwhile, in the third position is Glasgow Airport (GLA), with 20,505 scheduled flights and 655 cancelations, resulting in a 3.19% cancelation rate.
Surprisingly, the top five spots for Christmas cancelations belong to somewhere other than major UK airports like Heathrow (LHR) or Manchester Airport (MAN).
Preceding LHR and MAN in the fourth position is Wizz Air’s largest UK hub, Luton Airport (LTN), which recorded 33,196 scheduled flights and 979 cancelations, resulting in a 2.95% cancelation rate. Meanwhile, in fifth position is London Gatwick Airport (LGW), which has 71,794 scheduled flights and 1,855 cancelations, resulting in a 2.58% cancelation rate.
Bristol Airport (BRS) boasts the lowest percentage of flight cancelations during Christmas, with just 237 out of 17,040 scheduled flights affected, resulting in a low cancelation rate of 1.39%.
Weather disruptions at UK airports
Preparing for winter weather is more complex than forecasting temperatures and snowfall, and it can result in flight cancelations. Some UK airports have recently faced disruptions, causing flight delays and cancelations.
In early December 2023, Glasgow Airport advised that services in and out of the airport had been suspended this morning due to heavier than forecast snow. In addition to GLA, London Stansted Airport (STN) was affected by adverse weather conditions, resulting in the grounding and delay of some scheduled flights.
Heavy snowfall poses challenges for aircraft during takeoff and landing due to slower runway clearing. Additionally, snow accumulation during takeoff can turn into ice at higher altitudes, affecting aerodynamics and causing potential flying issues. Deicing is crucial in mitigating these concerns.
Aircraft Deicing: Everything You Need To Know
What are your thoughts on this? Do you frequently travel during the winter holiday season? Let us know in the comments section below.
