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

Of 773 scheduled Aer Lingus flights to and from Cardiff in 2025, 2.6% (95% range 1.7%–3.9%) were cancelled (13) or at least 3 hours late (about 7). Other airlines at Cardiff: 1.8%; the 95% ranges overlap, so the difference may 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

2.6%3+ hours late or cancelled

773scheduled flights 2025

80%on time or within 15 minutes

Compared with other airlines at Cardiff

Flights in 2025	Scheduled	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range
Aer Lingus at Cardiff	773	2.6%	1.7%–3.9%
All other airlines at Cardiff	3,787	1.8%	1.4%–2.3%
Aer Lingus at all UK airports	71,987	3.3%	3.15%–3.41%

The 95% ranges overlap, so Aer Lingus is not clearly better or worse than the other airlines at Cardiff. 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 Cardiff

Airline	Scheduled flights	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range	Cancelled
KLM	1,447	3.7%	2.8%–4.8%	52
Ryanair	1,293	0.2%	0.1%–0.7%	0
Vueling	553	0.5%	0.2%–1.6%	2

Aer Lingus flights at Cardiff in 2025

Scheduled flights (both directions)	773
Cancelled	13
Operated but 3 hours or more late	about 7
On time or within 15 minutes	80% of operated flights
Average delay of operated flights	12 minutes

Departures and arrivals

Direction	Scheduled flights	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range
Departures from Cardiff	383	2.9%	1.6%–5.0%
Arrivals at Cardiff	390	2.3%	1.2%–4.3%

By destination

Destination	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range	Flights	UK261
Belfast City	2.7%	1.8%–4.2%	729	£220

Destinations with at least 100 scheduled Aer Lingus flights in 2025; 3 smaller destinations are included in the totals only. Linked routes have their own page with all airlines.

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.