Take off on time

By Katharine MacColl

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LOST luggage, flight delays, crowded airports, what can we expect when booking this summer's holiday

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The good news is that flight delays last summer were no worse overall than the summer before. The bad news is that while some scheduled services improved, delays to charter flights got worse.

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Statistics from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) show the average delay to charter flights between July and September 2000 increased from 35 minutes to 40 minutes, and barely half� (51%) of those flights arrived on time.

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The worst-performing airports were Gatwick, where 52% of flights were late and the average delay was 44 minutes, and Manchester, where 50% of flights were delayed for an average of 43 minutes. The average delay at Stansted was 41 minutes and at Glasgow 39 minutes.

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Domestic flights fared worse than international departures, and the reasons given for delays included weather, industrial action, air-traffic control problems, missing passengers and airport security.

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Scheduled flights are much less prone to delays than charter flights. The comparison made by the CAA shows that 71% of scheduled flights were on time, compared with 51% of charter flights.

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This is partly because scheduled airlines use their planes less intensively. Charter airlines are more likely to be flying busy routes, where delays are common. However, for many travellers, there isn't an option. If you book a tour operator's package, you normally fly charter.

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The worst airport for delays was Edinburgh with 56% of flights delayed, although the average delay was only 35 minutes.�Overall, regional airports fared slightly better than London airports. Newcastle was top for on-time departures of scheduled flgihts, but the worst figures were for Luton, with 41% of flights delayed for an average of 21 minutes.

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If you're heading further afield, the worst delays are on flights to Palma, Majorca, where 55% of flights were delayed 46 minutes, Malagao - 54%, delayed 43 minutes, and Corfu - 52%, delayed 50 minutes.