Punctuality at UK airports 'deteriorates' in 2Q2010

UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced (13-Sep-2010) that the on-time performance of scheduled services "deteriorated" in 2Q2010. According to CAA figures, on-time performance was 78% in the Apr-Jun period, down 4% from the same period in 2009. The CAA collects data from 10 UK airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Luton, Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London City, with "on time" defined as within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival. Punctuality dropped across all airports, with London City the only exception, increasing punctuality by 1 ppt to 88%. Gatwick and Luton airports registered the most marked fall in punctuality, of 10 ppts (to 71%) and 9 ppts (to 71%), respectively. The CAA added that there was a 9% decline in the number of scheduled services over the period, which the CAA attributed to the ash cloud crisis and industrial action across the UK and Europe. The CAA stated the ash cloud crisis had "relatively little impact" on Q2 punctuality, but rather affected cancellation rates.