Which Airlines Had the Worst Flight Delay Rates in 2025?

December 25, 2025 at 07:25 AM•3 min read

Ryanair led global flight delay rates in 2025, according to a Flighty report, contributing to a staggering 1.4 million hours of total passenger waiting

Key Points

1Ryanair, Easyjet, and Air France all recorded a 29% flight delay rate in 2025, topping the global list.
2The Flighty report, based on 22 million flights, calculated the total passenger waiting time from delays reached 1.4 million hours (161 years).
3Air traffic control delays in Europe alone cost the aviation sector an estimated $6.8 billion between late 2024 and October 2025.
4Capacity shortages and staffing issues were cited as the primary causes for the rising air traffic control delays.

A new analysis of global flight delay statistics reveals significant challenges for airline on-time performance in 2025. Flight tracking app Flighty analyzed over 22 million air travels worldwide to compile its report on the most delayed airlines.

Flighty's data highlights the highest flight delay rates among major carriers. The total waiting time due to delays reached a staggering 1.4 million hours globally. This is the equivalent of 161 years of collective passenger waiting time.

Global Delay Rankings

European low-cost carriers and a major flag airline topped the list for Ryanair flight delay percentage and overall punctuality issues. The top three airlines all recorded the same percentage of delayed flights.

Ryanair had the highest percentage of delayed services at 29 percent.
Easyjet ranked second, also with 29 percent of flights delayed.
Air France was third, reporting a 29 percent delay rate.

Although the percentages were equal, Ryanair was responsible for more total hours of delay. This is due to its significantly larger passenger volume.

Other Carriers with High Delay Rates

Several other international carriers also faced major punctuality issues in 2025. The US ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines ranked fourth. They saw 28 percent of their flights delayed.

Lufthansa was fifth, with 28 percent of flights delayed. Australian carrier Qantas followed in sixth place. They recorded a 26 percent delay rate.

The Financial and Operational Impact

Delays are caused by various factors, including weather, technical issues, and crew or equipment delays. Flighty noted that holding patterns and runway queues extended travel time by 30 percent for all flights.

The financial implications of flight delays are substantial for the industry. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Eurocontrol, air traffic control (ATC) delays alone have a massive cost of air traffic control delays.

These ATC issues cost European airlines and passengers around $6.8 billion. This figure covers the period between late 2024 and October 2025. The majority of these costs stem from capacity shortages and staffing issues.

This data underscores the urgent need for improvements in air traffic management. Addressing these systemic issues is crucial for enhancing commercial aviation news and operations. Passengers deserve more reliable service. For more analysis on flight operation news, visit flying.flights.

Key Takeaways for Stakeholders:

Operational Efficiency: Airlines must invest in operational efficiency to mitigate delays.
Infrastructure: European ATC capacity and staffing shortages remain a primary driver of delays.
Passenger Experience: The total waiting time of 161 years highlights the severe impact on travelers globally.