MyTravel tops charter airline punctuality survey

MyTravel Airways is the most punctual UK charter airline, according to the Air Transport Users Council (AUC).

According to the AUC's delay league table for the summer 2006 season, just 5.4 per cent of MyTravel's flights were delayed for more than one hour, compared to 8.5 per cent in 2005 and 12.7 in 2004. The average delay experienced by MyTravel passengers last year was 14.1 minutes.

AUC chairman Tina Tietjen praised the airline, calling its punctuality improvement "a commendable achievement" and saying it "is again setting the benchmark for other carriers this year".

In second plane was First Choice Airways, with 8.8 per cent of its flights delayed by an hour or more and an average delay of 22.6 minutes.

Thomsonfly, in third place, also had an hour-or-more delay rate of 8.8 per cent but a slightly higher average delay of 24 minutes.

Bringing up the rear were XL Airways and Monarch Airlines, with 13.9 per cent (XL) and 16.7 per cent (Monarch) of their flights delayed by an hour or more.

Tietjen commented: "When we published our delay league table last year for summer 2005, we said we were looking for charter airlines to bounce back and improve their punctuality for summer season 2006 after two years of declining punctuality.

"Well, we are pleased to report that they have – just. Last summer saw a slight improvement in the overall charter airline punctuality performance compared to the year before."

The AUC also called on airlines to do all they can to provide passengers with information about why flights have been delayed. "Frequent updates help to restore goodwill between passengers and airlines in what are often very tense and difficult situations," it said.

MyTravel Airways is based at Manchester Airport, but also operates flights from airports such as Gatwick, Bristol, Dublin and Cardiff.

Destinations include Corfu, Alicante, Barbados and Bangkok.

© Adfero Ltd

Comments

[Richard Brown]

Well done MyTravel. If only all airlines were as good. No surprise to see XL Airways at the bottom.