London airports ranked: City praised for service, Gatwick hit by delays
Afisha.London reports on the latest findings placing London’s airports at opposite ends of the spectrum. Compact and efficient London City Airport has been lauded by passengers for its service standards, while Gatwick once again finds itself near the bottom of the rankings for delays.
According to consumer group Which?, London City ranked third nationally, with a passenger satisfaction score of 76%. Travellers praised its streamlined processes — from check-in and baggage drop to security and passport control — highlighting the absence of long queues. Speedy baggage reclaim, ample seating areas and reasonably priced cafés and shops added to its appeal. Drawbacks included a limited choice of restaurants and retail outlets, a shortage of toilets and a relatively high cancellation rate of 2.67%. Still, analysts noted that City’s compact size and functionality make it increasingly attractive not only for business trips but also for leisure travel.
The picture at Gatwick is markedly different. Figures from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) show that between April 2024 and March 2025 around 12% of flights were delayed by 31–60 minutes, with an average delay of 19.9 minutes — the second-worst performance in the country after Birmingham. Over the same period, roughly 4,050 Gatwick flights were cancelled, accounting for 1.5% of the total.
Having already topped the national delay tables in 2023 and 2024, Gatwick continues to struggle despite repeated efforts to improve. For 2025, its performance remains one of the most troubling in the UK aviation sector.
Cover photo: Henry Ren / Unsplash
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