Thomson Airways was the most punctual UK charter airline during the summer 2012 season, recording their fifth consecutive summer at the top of the league table, and also the best individual airline performance of any recent charter season with an average delay of only 11.3 minutes and over 82% on-time performance recorded.

A very low 3.7% of Thomson charter flights were delayed by over an hour during the season, a better performance than the scheduled flight average at UK airports for April to October 2012 (4.1%).

Thomas Cook Airlines and Monarch Airlines followed in second and third positions, with average delays of 26 minutes and 28 minutes respectively. Despite Thomas Cook charter flights boasting a lower average delay and higher on-time performance level than Monarch, a slightly lower proportion of Monarch charter flights were delayed by over an hour during the season.

Thomson Airways was the most punctual charter airline in the UK for the fourth consecutive summer season in 2011, with an average delay of 17.3 minutes recorded and around 77% overall on-time performance.

Thomas Cook Airlines finished the season in second place with an average delay of 19.8 minutes, but had the highest proportion of flights delayed by over an hour among the three analysed carriers at 8.8%. Monarch Airlines charter flights had the poorest performance and finished in third position with the longest average delay at 22 minutes.

The winter 2011 / 12 season saw the lowest average delays among charter flights since we began analysing records in 2002, with the average charter service operating 21 minutes behind schedule and 71% overall on-time performance.

Thomson Airways repeated their summer 2011 performance securing top position for the season with an average delay of 18 minutes and over 75% on-time performance, knocking Thomas Cook into second position for the first winter in three years.

Monarch charter flights had the longest delays, averaging nearly 29 minutes with less than 60% on-time performance.

Although all four analysed charter airlines suffered a decline in punctuality during summer 2010, Thomson Airways maintained first position for punctuality during the season for the third consecutive year, with an average delay of around 22 minutes (some 7 minutes shorter than the nearest competitor) and on-time performance of 71%, five percentage points higher than the charter average.

Delays for UK charter airlines during the winter 2010 / 11 season were again close to the highest level recorded since we began analysing records, in a repetition of the winter 2009 / 10 season with the average flight operating 34 minutes late, though an improved overall on-time performance of 67% was seen.

Thomas Cook Airlines had the best timekeeping with an average delay of just under 34 minutes and 67% on-time performance.

The summer 2009 charter punctuality season saw something of a reversal in the general trend of increasing charter flight delays over the preceding few years, with a significant improvement in punctuality recorded across UK reporting airports.

Thomson Airways secured first position for punctuality during the season for the second consecutive year, demonstrating a significant improvement in timekeeping compared with summer 2008.

Delays for UK charter airlines during the winter 2009 / 10 season were at their highest level since we began analysing records, the average flight operating 34 minutes late, nearly 50% longer than during winter 2008 / 09. On-time performance was only 63%, a six percentage point reduction compared with winter 2008 / 09.

Thomas Cook Airlines had the best overall timekeeping for the second consecutive winter season, with an average delay of around 31 minutes and 68% on-time performance recorded.

The main feature of the summer 2008 charter season was a sharp rise in delays with the average charter flight operating over 30 minutes behind schedule at UK reporting airports (a 14% increase from summer 2007) and 61% on-time performance (6% points lower than for summer 2007), resulting in the lowest charter flight OTP level recorded for a summer season in seven years.

Thomsonfly & First Choice Airways secured first position for punctuality during the season, despite a slight fall in timekeeping compared with summer 2007. The combined airlines recorded an average delay of 25 minutes and 63% on-time performance.

Overall UK charter flight punctuality during the winter 2008 / 09 season was the best recorded in five years with an average delay among the four largest charter airlines standing at less than 24 minutes and 69% overall on-time performance.

Thomas Cook Airlines charter flights boasted the best timekeeping with an average delay of less than 19 minutes, over 75% on-time performance and less than 8% of flights (1 in 13) delayed by more than an hour.

The summer 2007 season saw an almost static overall average delay profile for the major UK charter airlines compared with the previous two years.

MyTravel Airways was the most punctual UK charter airline during the season for the second consecutive year. The airline recorded an average delay of 19.9 minutes and operated nearly 79% of flights on-time.

Overall punctuality among the seven analysed Charter Airlines during the winter 2007 / 08 season was broadly similar to the previous three winter seasons, with the average charter flight delayed by around 27 minutes.

MyTravel Airways had the best punctuality performance during the season with an average delay of 18 minutes recorded and 76% on-time performance.

The summer 2006 season saw an almost static overall average delay profile for the major UK charter airlines compared with the previous year.

MyTravel Airways was the most punctual UK charter airline during the season for the first time. The airline recorded an average delay of 14.7 minutes and operated nearly 83% of flights on-time, a significant improvement compared with previous seasons for the airline.

Overall punctuality among the seven analysed Charter Airlines during the winter 2006 / 07 season was broadly similar to the previous winter seasons, with the average charter flight delayed by around 28 minutes.

First Choice Airways had the best punctuality performance during the season with an average delay of 20 minutes recorded and 68% on-time performance.