Revealed: The 3 most reliable airlines flying from the UK right now
Booking a flight at present probably feels like playing in a high-stakes poker game where the house always wins — the odds of getting through the whole thing intact, let’s face it, aren’t enticing.
No, things haven’t been easy at airports lately. However, there could be some light at the end of the passenger boarding tunnel. With help from the industry data experts at Cirium, we’ve crunched the numbers for all canceled flights in the United Kingdom for June and found plenty of eye-opening insights. They include what airlines are your best bet for a smooth journey and which ones to perhaps avoid.
Worst offenders
Let’s kick off with the villains. It’ll be little surprise that easyJet and British Airways top the list for most cancellations overall. The two carriers have canceled tens of thousands of flights between them already this year.
EasyJet has axed an eye-watering 742 departures, and BA 295 in the past month. Both airlines have faced intense criticism for last-minute cancellations at their respective London Gatwick Airport (LGW) and Heathrow Airport (LHR) bases.
Related: The key dates for when travel is set to be disrupted in Europe this summer
It’s easy to conflate the two given their issues. However, looking at the cancellations as a percentage of scheduled departures, easyJet, with 4.61%, has almost double the figure of BA (2.90%). This puts the low-cost carrier way out in front as the most unreliable airline in the U.K. in terms of flight numbers last month.
The 295 flights for BA may sound a lot — because it is — but despite the column inches about BA cutting flights like they’re going out of fashion, the flagship British carrier managed to get 97.10% of its flights in the skies as planned. Not great, but not as apocalyptic as it may feel at times either.
In actuality — based on last month’s figures — your biggest chance of seeing a flight canceled right now is if you purchase a ticket with U.K. domestic airline Eastern Airways, which was only able to deliver 10.17% of its planned departures.
Or worse still, Germany’s Eurowings, which cut 60 of its 370 flights to leave it with a hit rate of under 84%. Autsch.
Related: Key reasons you might want to buy travel insurance
What’s more, easyJet’s cancellation rate of 4.61% is still better than BA CityFlyer (6.87%) and KLM Cityhopper (a whopping 7.27%). The two carriers may have scheduled fewer than 200 flights between them in all of June, but dollar for dollar they’ve been a disaster.
Bright side
Don’t fret, though. It’s not all doom and gloom. It may be a surprise, but there are a few major airlines performing exceedingly well amid all the current travel chaos. Fans of Virgin Atlantic will be glad to know that, almost unbelievably, the airline didn’t miss a single flight in June, managing to fulfill all of its 887 scheduled departures.
Related: Your flight is canceled or delayed – here’s what you should do next
Granted, Virgin’s longstanding rival BA had over 9,000 more scheduled departures from U.K. airports. However, if you're comparing long-haul tickets on both stalwarts right now, it’s obvious who the smart choice is in regard to delivering its promised schedule.
The good news isn’t restricted to long-haul travel either. Jet2, with boss Steve Heapy at the forefront of talks between airline bosses and the government to avoid repeat scenes of the Easter break, canceled just 11 of its 5,740 departures from domestic airports last month. Eleven!
The Leeds-based firm had the fourth-biggest roster of any airline and managed to deliver 99.81% of it.
That’s not all. Despite the chaos it recently faced at Manchester Airport (MAN) when flights were cut last-minute and police were called to help passengers, TUI suffered just 27 cancellations out of a possible 4,091 flight departures in June. This cancellation rate of just 0.66% means it’s in relatively good shape ahead of the hectic school holidays, when it can expect stampedes of passengers fleeing to sunnier climates.
Elsewhere, the eternal battle between easyJet and Ryanair looks more one-sided by the day after the Irish low-cost carrier registered only 27 cancellations from a possible 10,887 U.K. departures in the whole of June.
While they may still appear midtable in terms of total disruptions, Ryanair’s cancellations equate to just 0.25% of its total scheduled flights. This easily places it alongside Virgin Atlantic and Jet2 as one of the most reliable carriers in the U.K. right now.
Related: 3 things to do if your flight is delayed
Check out the table for yourself:
Flights canceled departing the UK by airline – June 2022
| Operating airline | Canceled departures | Scheduled departures | % of cancellations on services |
|---|---|---|---|
1. EasyJet | 742. | 16,091. | 4.61%. |
2. British Airways | 295. | 10,175. | 2.90%. |
3. BA CityFlyer | 134. | 1,951. | 6.87%. |
4. Loganair | 111. | 4,430. | 2.51%. |
5. KLM Cityhopper | 93. | 1,280. | 7.27%. |
6. Wizz Air | 72. | 1,688. | 4.27%. |
7. Eastern Airways | 64. | 629. | 10.17%. |
8. Eurowings | 60. | 370. | 16.22%. |
9. Wizz Air UK | 30. | 1,022. | 2.94%. |
10. Lufthansa | 28. | 845. | 3.31%. |
11. TUI Airways | 27. | 4,091. | 0.66%. |
12. Ryanair | 27. | 10,887. | 0.25%. |
13. SAS | 21. | 467. | 4.50%. |
14. Vueling | 16. | 919. | 1.74%. |
15. American Airlines | 16. | 681. | 2.35%. |
16. KLM | 15. | 438. | 3.42%. |
17. United Airlines | 11. | 722. | 1.52%. |
18. Blue Islands | 11. | 812. | 1.35%. |
19. Jet2 | 11. | 5,740. | 0.19%. |
20. Iberia Express | 11. | 341. | 3.23%. |
Bottom line
If you’ve been flummoxed as to what airline to fly with this summer in the hope of avoiding the carnage and cancellations, at least you now know it might not be the complete disaster you keep being told. Sure, it’s not great, but it could be much, much worse.
While plenty of airlines (and airports) are struggling right now, if you’re playing the odds game we’d definitely be banking with Virgin Atlantic, Ryanair and Jet2, whose cancellation figures continue to bely the challenges that the industry currently faces.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.