Air China at London Heathrow: how often flights are 3+ hours late or cancelled

Of 1,743 scheduled Air China flights to and from London Heathrow in 2025, 0.7% (95% range 0.4%–1.2%) were cancelled (5) or at least 3 hours late (about 7). Other airlines at London Heathrow: 1.8%; the 95% ranges do not overlap, so the difference is unlikely to be chance. Air China at all UK airports: 0.8%. 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

0.7%3+ hours late or cancelled

1,743scheduled flights 2025

81%on time or within 15 minutes

Compared with other airlines at London Heathrow

Flights in 2025	Scheduled	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range
Air China at London Heathrow	1,743	0.7%	0.4%–1.2%
All other airlines at London Heathrow	480,097	1.8%	1.77%–1.84%
Air China at all UK airports	2,952	0.8%	0.5%–1.2%

The 95% ranges of Air China and the other airlines at London Heathrow 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 London Heathrow

Airline	Scheduled flights	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range	Cancelled
British Airways	243,799	1.6%	1.55%–1.65%	3,078
Virgin Atlantic	23,140	1.7%	1.58%–1.92%	327
American Airlines	15,838	4.6%	4.3%–5.0%	442
Lufthansa	14,716	1.6%	1.4%–1.9%	231
United Airlines	13,801	3.4%	3.1%–3.7%	253
Aer Lingus	13,560	1.1%	0.92%–1.27%	127
SAS	9,887	0.9%	0.70%–1.06%	76
Swiss	8,701	1.3%	1.1%–1.6%	111

Air China flights at London Heathrow in 2025

Scheduled flights (both directions)	1,743
Cancelled	5
Operated but 3 hours or more late	about 7
On time or within 15 minutes	81% of operated flights
Average delay of operated flights	10 minutes

Departures and arrivals

Direction	Scheduled flights	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range
Departures from London Heathrow	872	0.8%	0.4%–1.6%
Arrivals at London Heathrow	871	0.6%	0.2%–1.3%

By destination

Destination	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range	Flights	UK261
Beijing Capital	0.8%	0.5%–1.4%	1,451	£520
Chengdu Tianfu	0.0%	0.0%–1.3%	292	£520

Destinations with at least 100 scheduled Air China flights in 2025. 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.