In 2025 British Airways disrupted flights exactly as often as UK airports on average: of 354,406 scheduled flights, 1.6% were 3+ hours late or cancelled, and nationally the figure is also 1.6%. For BA, though, the main risk is cancellation. At the main operator British Airways there were 3,941 cancellations against 985 delays of 3+ hours without cancellation, a quarter as many. The figures come from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) punctuality statistics for 2025 and show the rate across a whole year; only the airline and the airport know the status of your flight today.
Heathrow and BA's three operators
Most of the flying is at London Heathrow: 243,799 BA flights, 1.6% cancelled or 3+ hours late, and 3,078 cancellations, the majority of all the airline's cancellations. The breakdown for BA flights only at this airport is on the page British Airways at Heathrow. Worst of the company's large airports is Aberdeen at 2.6% (4,812 flights, 114 cancellations); the best is London City at 1.4%.
The CAA statistics list three operators under the BA brand, meaning three companies with separate certificates. The main one, British Airways: 288,480 flights, 1.7%, 3,941 cancellations. BA CityFlyer, which flies from London City: 38,593 flights, 1.3%, 411 cancellations. BA Euroflyer from London Gatwick: 27,333 flights, 0.8% and just 12 cancellations. The data give no reasons for the cancellations, but the difference is plain: over 2025 a Euroflyer ticket was disrupted half as often as one on the main operator. For a flight from an EU airport, EU261 applies (€250 / €400 / €600) if the operator is an EU carrier, and UK261 if it is a UK carrier; this is stated in the footnote on the page.
Compensation when your flight is long-haul
That 1.6% is an upper estimate of the cases where compensation may be due. The CAA records lateness at a UK airport, while the law looks at arrival at the destination. Bad weather, air traffic control decisions, third-party strikes and security threats count as extraordinary circumstances; a cancellation announced 14 days or more in advance carries no compensation. Under the CAA rules the UK261 amounts are: £220 up to 1,500 km, £350 for 1,500–3,500 km, and for a long-haul flight over 3,500 km £260 for a delay of 3–4 hours and £520 if the delay exceeds 4 hours.
An example. You fly BA from Heathrow to New York, more than 3,500 km. Because of a technical fault with the aircraft you arrive three and a half hours late: under UK261 that means £260. Had the flight been delayed by more than 4 hours, the sum would have risen to £520. If a thunderstorm over the Atlantic had delayed the flight, that would be extraordinary circumstances, and no compensation would be due. You submit a claim to British Airways first; after a refusal or a long silence, the next step is alternative dispute resolution (ADR) or the CAA. The CAA has a separate page on your rights after a cancellation.