The number of UK flight cancellations in the first half of 2023 is the lowest seen since the covid pandemic hit in 2019.
6,665 flights were cancelled in the first half of this year according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium equating to 1.53% of scheduled flights.
Unsurprisingly 2020 saw the worst figures with 25,075 flights cancelled due to travel restrictions and uncertainty that came with the COVID pandemic.
This news is further evidence that the UK travel industry is almost fully recovered from what was an unprecedented time that took a huge toll on the industry.
The rate of cancellations though is still almost double that of pre-pandemic levels with the first half of 2019 seeing just 3,873 cancellations, 0.75%.
Cancellations can be caused by a number of reasons such as technical failure of the aircraft, weather or ATC strikes.
Passengers flying in the UK and EU are entitled to compensation for cancelled flights and the airline must offer you an alternative flight at their expense if that is what you prefer, even if that is with another airline.
So what are your rights?
If you are denied boarding or your flight is cancelled then you are entitled to compensation as follows.
| Length of flight | Length of disruptions | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| short-haul flight of under 1,500km (e.g. Glasgow to Amsterdam) | Arrive 2 hours or more later at final destination | £220 |
| short-haul flight of under 1,500km (e.g. Glasgow to Amsterdam) | Arrive less than 2 hours later at final destination | £110 |
| medium-haul flight of 1,500km – 3,500km (e.g. East Midlands to Marrakesh) | Takes off more than 2 hours before your original flight, and arrives 3 or more hours later at final destination | £350 |
| medium-haul flight of 1,500km – 3,500km (e.g. East Midlands to Marrakesh) | Takes off 2 hours before your original flight, and arrives less than 3 hours later at final destination | £175 |
| long-haul flight of over 3,500km (e.g. London to New York) | Arrive 4 hours or later at final destination | £520 |
| long-haul flight of over 3,500km (e.g. London to New York) | Takes off less than 1 hours before your original flight, and arrives less than 4 hours later at final destination | £260 |