Flight Delays at Gatwick Airport — Your Compensation Rights
If your flight from Gatwick was delayed by three hours or more, you may be owed up to £520 per passenger under UK261 — regardless of which airline you flew. Your rights are the same as at any UK airport, but knowing Gatwick’s delay record helps you understand how likely a claim is and what tends to cause disruption here.
This guide covers Gatwick’s passenger and punctuality figures, the airlines based here, and how to claim. Check your likely payout with the compensation calculator.
Gatwick Airport at a Glance
Passengers & Punctuality
The latest available figures for the airport:
- Annual passengers — around 42.8 million (the UK’s second-busiest airport)
- Average departure delay — 23 minutes 18 seconds
- National ranking — the UK’s worst airport for delays, two years running
- On-time means within 15 minutes of schedule, per the CAA definition
What You Can Claim Flying from Gatwick
Compensation by Distance
Amounts are fixed per passenger, regardless of the fare paid:
- £220 — short-haul, up to 1,500 km
- £350 — medium-haul, 1,500 to 3,500 km
- £520 — long-haul, over 3,500 km
- You must arrive 3+ hours late and the delay must be the airline’s fault — not extraordinary circumstances
Why Flights Are Delayed at Gatwick
Common Causes Here
Gatwick has the unwanted title of the UK’s least punctual major airport — a single-runway hub repeatedly hit by air traffic control problems. If you fly from Gatwick, your odds of a compensable delay are higher than almost anywhere.
- The world’s busiest single-runway airport — little room for recovery
- Hit hard by European and its own control-tower ATC staff shortages
- High summer-peak congestion on leisure routes
- Knock-on delays compounding across a tight schedule
Remember that many causes airlines blame — technical faults, crew issues, knock-on delays — are usually still claimable, whatever the airport’s congestion.
Airlines Operating from Gatwick
Claim Against Your Operating Airline
Major carriers at Gatwick include — click through for airline-specific guides:
- easyJet flight delay compensation
- British Airways flight delay compensation
- TUI flight delay compensation
- Vueling flight delay compensation
- Wizz Air flight delay compensation
- You always claim against the operating airline, not the airport
How to Claim a Gatwick Flight Delay
Your Steps
The process is the same wherever you flew from:
- Gather your booking, boarding passes and arrival time
- Submit a claim to your airline — see how to claim
- If they reject or ignore you, escalate to ADR or court
- Decide whether to use a claims company or claim free yourself
Common Questions About Gatwick Delays
Does it matter that Gatwick is busy/congested when I claim?
Not to your eligibility. UK261 compensation depends on your airline being responsible for the delay and you arriving 3+ hours late — not on how busy Gatwick is. Congestion may explain a delay, but unless it was a genuine extraordinary circumstance outside the airline’s control, you can still claim.
The delay was caused by the airport, not my airline. Can I still claim?
It depends on the cause. A genuine airport-wide problem — a runway closure, security incident or air-traffic-control restriction — is usually an extraordinary circumstance outside the airline’s control, so compensation may not apply. But ordinary operational delays the airline tries to blame on “the airport” are often still claimable. Ask for the specific cause.
Which airline do I claim from at Gatwick?
Always the operating carrier — the airline that actually ran your flight. If you booked through an agent or a codeshare partner, the claim still goes to the airline that operated the aircraft, not whoever sold you the ticket. Your boarding pass shows the operating carrier.
How far back can I claim for a delayed flight here?
Up to six years from the flight date in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (five in Scotland). That’s a long window, so older flights from this airport may still qualify — but claim promptly while records and evidence are easy to obtain.
Related Guides
Flight Delay Compensation Calculator
Am I Eligible for Flight Delay Compensation?
Extraordinary Circumstances Explained
How to Claim Flight Delay Compensation
Air Traffic Control Delay Compensation
Check If You Could Claim Compensation For Your Delayed Flight
If your flight was delayed by 3 hours or more, you may be entitled to compensation. Start a free flight delay claim check in minutes — no upfront cost. No win, no fee if your claim is accepted.
