Europe's 50 Most Disrupted Flight Routes Revealed

Mykonos to London Gatwick is revealed as the most disrupted flight route in Europe, with 75% of all flights this year suffering delays. A popular destination for British holidaymakers, this route is ranked at number one in ‘Europe’s 50 Most Disrupted Flight Routes’, a new study of global flight data throughout 2018 by AirHelp.

Nearly three quarters (72%) of air passengers flying from Gatwick to Bucharest this year would also have endured flight delays or cancellations, with the route placed 4th worst in the European ranking. This route is closely followed by flights from Venice to London Luton at 6th place, with more than two thirds (68%) of travellers experiencing disrupted flights in 2018.

Passengers travelling via UK airports are more likely to suffer delays and cancellations than any other European air travellers, with UK airports featuring in 25 of the 50 worst European flight routes. Those flying to or from Italian or German airports are also likely to endure travel chaos – Italian airports feature in 24 routes and German airports in 18 routes.

European destinations will still be first choice for many UK holidaymakers but AirHelp flight data analysis reveals some interesting insights and tips for savvy travellers looking to reduce their chances of experiencing flight disruption. Passengers flying on a Tuesday are least likely to suffer delays and cancellations, with 78% of flights arriving at their destinations on time. However, weekend travellers should be prepared for travel misery – more than 1 in 4 flights (29%) are delayed or cancelled on Sundays.

“This year, we’ve seen the worst European flight disruptions on record,” said Paloma Salmeron, air passenger rights expert at AirHelp. “UK air passengers have suffered an unprecedented level of flight disruptions this year, with over 186,000 departing flights delayed or cancelled to date in 2018 – that’s over 27,000 more UK flights affected than last year.

“With a growing number of delayed and cancelled flights, European air passengers are enduring a rising tide of travel misery. Although it’s not always possible to avoid travel disruption, we urge affected passengers to check whether they are entitled to financial compensation. With 86% of UK air travellers unaware of their air passenger rights, many are missing out on the compensation to which they are entitled by not filing a claim.”

Europe’s 10 most disrupted flights routes: