Both Newcastle and Liverpool John Lennon airports recorded the highest proportion of on-time flights among 25 UK airports in the first quarter of 2026. Manchester Airport ranked lowest, with just 68 per cent of flights operating on time. (Image: CAA)The CAA has recently updated its methodology for calculating flight on-time performance, focusing on actual gate times rather than estimated taxi times. In terms of flight performance, the CAA defines a flight as "on-time" if it arrives at or departs from the airport gate within 15 minutes of its scheduled time. Teesside Airport ranked at 78 per cent.