London Southend Airport has been named the UK’s most punctual airport after Civil Aviation Authority data for the second quarter of 2026 showed 84% of its flights departed within 15 minutes of schedule. The result lifted the airport from third place to first in the UK rankings and confirmed it as London’s most punctual airport, with on-time performance seven percentage points ahead of Heathrow.
Southend’s lead over Heathrow widened from two percentage points in the previous quarter, reflecting stronger schedule reliability during the period. The ranking also placed the airport ahead of Liverpool and Aberdeen, underlining a notable shift among UK airports in punctuality performance.
The figures are based on CAA data covering the second quarter, a period in which Southend’s operations stood out among larger UK hubs. For airlines and airport operators, punctuality remains a key measure of operational efficiency, passenger experience and network resilience, particularly in a market where schedule reliability can influence airline capacity decisions and traveller choice.