The worst UK airports for flight punctuality have been revealed, with the longest delays at London Luton - but Birmingham Airport isn't far behind.

Departures from the Bedfordshire airport were an average of 20 minutes late in 2017, according to Press Association analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data.

Birmingham came fifth in the ranking, with an average wait of 18 minutes - three worse than the national average.

London Gatwick recorded the second worst punctuality performance followed by Jersey and Durham Tees Valley, then Birmingham.

The ranking takes into account every scheduled and charter flight from 25 of the UK’s major airports. Cancelled flights are not included.

The average delay across all the featured airports was 15 minutes.

London Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport, was found to have the best performance, with aircraft typically taking off 11 minutes late.

Birmingham Airport
Birmingham Airport

Leeds Bradford had the second best record, followed by Belfast City and London City.

A spokeswoman for London Luton said: “We regret any delay our passengers experience.”

She added that punctuality was influenced by “many factors” outside its control such as air traffic control strikes, late arriving aircraft, bad weather and congested airspace.

Punctuality data enables passengers to “make informed choices about which airports they fly from”, a CAA spokesman said.

“The aviation industry should constantly strive to improve punctuality to enhance the passenger experience,” he added.

A spokesman for the Airport Operators Association (AOA) said “outdated” airspace infrastructure limits the efficiency of flights.

“The UK needs to modernise its airspace,” he explained. “Airports are working with air traffic service providers and the Government to plan and deliver the necessary changes so everyone can continue to fly with a minimum of delays.”

Passengers on delayed flights from UK airports are entitled to assistance and compensation depending on the cause and length of the disruption.

When flights are delayed for more than two hours, airlines have to provide free access to phone calls or emails, meals and refreshments, as well as hotel accommodation if an overnight stay is required.

Passengers can also claim compensation when flights are delayed by more than three hours unless there are “extraordinary circumstances” such as severe weather or a security alert.

Payouts range from 250 euro (£219) to 600 euro (£524) depending on the length of the flight and how long it was delayed.

Alex Neill, a managing director at consumer group Which?, said delays are “one of the most frustrating things about travelling” and urged passengers to “claim what they are entitled to”.

She added that airlines should introduce automatic compensation so people receive what they are owed “without having to jump through hoops”.

The worst delays

Luton - 19.7 minutes

Gatwick - 18.9 minutes

Jersey - 18.7 minutes

Durham Tees Valley - 18.6 minutes

Birmingham - 18.2 minutes

Bristol - 17.6 minutes

Belfast International - 16.7 minutes

Manchester - 16.7 minutes

Stansted - 16.7 minutes

Aberdeen - 16.1 minutes

Edinburgh - 15.8 minutes

Cardiff - 15.7 minutes

Glasgow - 15.0 minutes

Doncaster Sheffield - 14.3 minutes

Liverpool - 14.0 minutes

London Southend - 13.5 minutes

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Southampton - 13.5 minutes

East Midlands International - 13.3 minutes

Newcastle - 12.8 minutes

Bournemouth - 12.3 minutes

Exeter - 11.9 minutes

London City - 11.6 minutes

Belfast City - 11.3 minutes

Leeds Bradford - 11.3 minutes

Heathrow - 11.0 minutes

Average delay times in 2017 based on Civil Aviation Authority data