Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
19 January 2015 10:50
More flights into and out of the UK were delayed last summer, new figures show
More holidaymakers jetting out of the UK last summer found their plane delayed, new figures show.
The Civil Aviation Authority says 71% of charter flights to and from 10 large British airports were on time between July and September last year. That's a drop from the 79% that kept to schedule in 2013.
The average length of the delay was also longer last year - 18 minutes, compared to 16 minutes before.
It was no better for people on scheduled flights - just 75% were on time last year, while airports managed 80% the year before. The average delay for them went up to 14 minutes from 12 minutes.
The figures showed families off to Orlando, Florida, in the US suffered the longest delays on average, 31.9 minutes.The figures are a reminder of the importance of travel insurance.
That conjures up an image of stressed parents trying to keep their tired kids occupied while keeping an ear out for further information on their flight.
So how can you keep the children happy while trapped in an airport for an unspecified length of time? How to stay entertained when flights are delayed
• Check out the airport thoroughly for family lounges and play areas, many provide them knowing children need something to do while they're waiting for a flight.
• Comics, colouring or puzzle books in your hand luggage can be a life-saver at this moment - if you haven't brought them with you, pick some up from the newsagent at the terminal
• Perhaps check out the food joints for a relaxing adult drink or snack while securing entertainment for the kids via colouring items you can take with you when you've finished.
From planes to passengers, there's plenty to look at in an airport so you shouldn't be short of options. Maybe even give out sweets as prizes.
21 September 2018
UK holidaymakers could be missing out on more than 60 direct flight routes thanks to Air Passenger Duty (APD), a report suggests.
[more...]
20 September 2018
Living in areas with high levels of air pollution could be linked to an increased risk of dementia, new research suggests.
19 September 2018
Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are shelling out tens of thousands of pounds for care - and many are unable to cover the costs, a leading charity has warned.
18 September 2018
As much as £6 of every £10 spent on domestic flights in the UK goes on Air Passenger Duty (APD), new research suggests.
15 September 2018
UK driving licences might become invalid in certain European countries if the UK crashes out of the EU with no deal, the Government has warned.
14 September 2018
Online crowdfunding for cancer treatments is indirectly advancing the rise of alternative "quack" therapies, experts have warned.
13 September 2018
A "wee-stick" like those used in pregnancy testing could be employed to prevent thousands of deaths from ovarian cancer.
11 September 2018
As many as 1.3 million passengers endured severe flight delays in the last year, a new study reveals.
08 September 2018
British Airways customers are cancelling their credit cards after the carrier was hit by a 15-day data breach that compromised the details of around 380,000 people.
06 September 2018
Plastic trays at security desks harbour the highest numbers of viruses at airports, new research has discovered.
05 September 2018
Adults are being urged to take advantage of a new online tool to find out if they are at risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
04 September 2018
Child cancer patients regularly have to travel twice as far and pay out twice as much when getting treatment, new data shows.