New data from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority has revealed that, for the second year in a row, Wizz Air was the worst major airline for flight delays out of UK airports last year.
Wizz Air operates short-haul flights from eight UK airports, including Birmingham, Edinburgh, Gatwick and Luton. The carrier’s UK departures were an average of 46 minutes and six seconds behind schedule in 2022. This is more than three times longer than the previous year, when it was also ranked in last place for punctuality.
Travel and tourism company Tui was the second worst in terms of punctuality last year, with an average delay of 40 minutes and 18 seconds. It was followed by Qatar Airways at 31 minutes and 48 seconds; Turkish Airlines at 29 minutes and 30 seconds; and Pegasus Airlines, at 27 minutes and 18 seconds.
Norwegian Air Shuttle recorded the best performance, with an average delay of just 13 minutes and 42 seconds. Results were drawn from data covering all scheduled and chartered departures from UK airports by airlines with more than 2,500 flights. Cancelled flights were not included. The average delay for all flights was 23 minutes.
Paul Smith, consumer director of CAA, said “too many passengers faced disappointing levels of delays” last year.
“The CAA has regularly asked for stronger consumer enforcement powers, including the ability to impose fines on airlines. When things do go wrong, we expect airlines to proactively provide passengers with information about their rights when flights are disrupted, as well as offer timely support and assistance.
“We’ve already raised concerns about Wizz Air and are working closely with the airline to improve outcomes for consumers.”
Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said that strikes by security staff at Heathrow, as well as border officials at several airports in the country, means travellers flying out of the UK may be in for another disruptive year when it comes to air travel.
“This may end up an equally difficult and unpredictable year for those expecting smooth journeys on every trip.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Background: Chemical Weapons
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
On Instagram: @WithHopeUAE
Although social media can be harmful to our mental health, paradoxically, one of the antidotes comes with the many social-media accounts devoted to normalising mental-health struggles. With Hope UAE is one of them.
The group, which has about 3,600 followers, was started three years ago by five Emirati women to address the stigma surrounding the subject. Via Instagram, the group recently began featuring personal accounts by Emiratis. The posts are written under the hashtag #mymindmatters, along with a black-and-white photo of the subject holding the group’s signature red balloon.
“Depression is ugly,” says one of the users, Amani. “It paints everything around me and everything in me.”
Saaed, meanwhile, faces the daunting task of caring for four family members with psychological disorders. “I’ve had no support and no resources here to help me,” he says. “It has been, and still is, a one-man battle against the demons of fractured minds.”
In addition to With Hope UAE’s frank social-media presence, the group holds talks and workshops in Dubai. “Change takes time,” Reem Al Ali, vice chairman and a founding member of With Hope UAE, told The National earlier this year. “It won’t happen overnight, and it will take persistent and passionate people to bring about this change.”
