Manchester Airport disruption affect over one million passengers

Analysis by passenger rights firm AirHelp found that 36 per cent of passengers travelling through the airport between January and March experienced some form of disruption.

That equates to around 1.03 million people, including more than 47,700 whose flights were cancelled.

The figures come ahead of the busy summer travel period and reflect wider challenges across the aviation sector.

Across the UK and Ireland, 18.5 million passengers – roughly 31 per cent– were impacted by delays or cancellations during the same period.

Manchester Airport was among several major hubs to see higher-than-average disruption levels, alongside airports such as Birmingham (33 per cent).

Airport officials say the figures need to be viewed in context, pointing to a range of external factors that have affected punctuality across the industry.

A spokesperson for Manchester Airport said: “This analysis of the Civil Aviation Authority’s data is misleading as it ignores important context – context which is directly referenced by the CAA in the notes accompanying the research and in the research itself.

“Punctuality is affected by factors that are outside of an airport’s control. The two most significant factors contributing to delays in the last year have been industrial action affecting air traffic control in Europe, and the weather.

“These were exacerbated by airspace restrictions above conflict zones meaning airports with significant long-haul networks, like Manchester, were more significantly affected than others.

 “As an industry we are working collectively to achieve the best possible on-time departure rates, while protecting flight schedules and avoiding the need for cancellations.”

Flights from the Far East or South Asia are regularly delayed due to restrictions on flying over Ukraine or the Middle East, forcing more circuitous routes.

This can delay arrivals and have a knock-on effect on outbound departures.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also notes that disruption data should be treated with caution, stating that factors such as severe weather, technical issues and other extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of airports and airlines can impact schedules and do not necessarily reflect overall performance.

Despite the disruption, AirHelp said hundreds of thousands of passengers could be eligible for compensation, with more than 440,000 potential claims identified across the UK and Ireland.

AirHelp chief executive Tomasz Pawliszyn said: “Passengers travelling through Manchester have faced a challenging start to the year, with disruption levels above the national average.

“As we head into peak travel season, this is a reminder that delays and cancellations remain a widespread issue.”

Passengers are being encouraged to check their rights and eligibility for compensation before travelling through the AirHelp app.