Aer Lingus at Belfast City: how often flights are 3+ hours late or cancelled

Of 14,613 scheduled Aer Lingus flights to and from Belfast City in 2025, 4.4% (95% range 4.1%–4.8%) were cancelled (517) or at least 3 hours late (about 129). Other airlines at Belfast City: 1.3%; the 95% ranges do not overlap, so the difference is unlikely to be chance. Aer Lingus at all UK airports: 3.3%. Compensation under UK261 is due only when the airline is at fault, so this is an upper estimate. Source: UK CAA.

Data: CAA punctuality statistics, calendar year 2025 (published 25 February 2026) · calculated 3 November 2026 · Methodology and sources

4.4%3+ hours late or cancelled

14,613scheduled flights 2025

75%on time or within 15 minutes

Compared with other airlines at Belfast City

Flights in 2025	Scheduled	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range
Aer Lingus at Belfast City	14,613	4.4%	4.1%–4.8%
All other airlines at Belfast City	13,346	1.3%	1.13%–1.52%
Aer Lingus at all UK airports	71,987	3.3%	3.15%–3.41%

The 95% ranges of Aer Lingus and the other airlines at Belfast City do not overlap, so the difference is unlikely to be chance. Shares depend on where an airline flies: routes to islands and to airports with frequent weather or air traffic control restrictions raise them without the airline being at fault.

Largest airlines at Belfast City

Airline	Scheduled flights	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range	Cancelled
British Airways	6,108	1.5%	1.2%–1.9%	79
easyJet	4,800	0.8%	0.6%–1.1%	18
KLM	1,442	1.8%	1.2%–2.6%	24
Loganair	996	1.8%	1.1%–2.8%	9

Aer Lingus flights at Belfast City in 2025

Scheduled flights (both directions)	14,613
Cancelled	517
Operated but 3 hours or more late	about 129
On time or within 15 minutes	75% of operated flights
Average delay of operated flights	14 minutes

Departures and arrivals

Direction	Scheduled flights	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range
Departures from Belfast City	7,312	4.2%	3.7%–4.7%
Arrivals at Belfast City	7,301	4.7%	4.2%–5.2%

By destination

Destination	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range	Flights	UK261
Birmingham	4.9%	4.2%–5.6%	3,631	£220
Manchester	4.2%	3.5%–5.1%	2,414	£220
Leeds Bradford	5.3%	4.5%–6.3%	2,328	£220
Edinburgh	5.0%	4.2%–6.0%	2,153	£220
Southampton	2.7%	2.1%–3.6%	1,702	£220
Glasgow	3.0%	2.0%–4.4%	828	£220
Cardiff	2.9%	1.9%–4.3%	728	£220
East Midlands	2.6%	1.4%–4.7%	388	£220
Exeter	3.4%	1.9%–5.9%	327	£220

Destinations with at least 100 scheduled Aer Lingus flights in 2025; 8 smaller destinations are included in the totals only. Linked routes have their own page with all airlines.

By operating company

Operator (as listed by the CAA)	Scheduled flights	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range	Cancelled
Emerald Airlines UK (Aer Lingus Regional)	13,919	3.8%	3.5%–4.2%	411
Emerald Airlines (Aer Lingus Regional)	447	4.3%	2.7%–6.5%	16
Aer Lingus	247	37%	31%–43%	90

The operating company decides whether UK261 or EU261 applies to flights from an EU airport.

Caveats

This is an upper estimate of flights where compensation may be due. Weather, air traffic control, strikes by third parties and security problems are “extraordinary circumstances” and give no right to compensation; cancellations announced 14 days or more ahead do not either.
The CAA measures delay at the UK airport (departure or arrival). The legal test is the delay on arrival at the final destination.
Flights in both directions are combined. For flights from an EU airport, EU261 applies when the airline is an EU airline (€250 / €400 / €600), UK261 when it is a UK airline.