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

Of 14,716 scheduled Lufthansa flights to and from London Heathrow in 2025, 1.6% (95% range 1.4%–1.9%) were cancelled (231) or at least 3 hours late (about 10). Other airlines at London Heathrow: 1.8%; the 95% ranges overlap, so the difference may be chance. Lufthansa at all UK airports: 1.6%. 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

1.6%3+ hours late or cancelled

14,716scheduled flights 2025

77%on time or within 15 minutes

Compared with other airlines at London Heathrow

Flights in 2025	Scheduled	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range
Lufthansa at London Heathrow	14,716	1.6%	1.4%–1.9%
All other airlines at London Heathrow	467,124	1.8%	1.77%–1.85%
Lufthansa at all UK airports	27,324	1.6%	1.43%–1.73%

The 95% ranges overlap, so Lufthansa is not clearly better or worse than the other airlines at London Heathrow. 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
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
Eurowings	8,491	1.0%	0.8%–1.3%	78

Lufthansa flights at London Heathrow in 2025

Scheduled flights (both directions)	14,716
Cancelled	231
Operated but 3 hours or more late	about 10
On time or within 15 minutes	77% 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	7,355	1.6%	1.4%–1.9%
Arrivals at London Heathrow	7,361	1.6%	1.4%–2.0%

By destination

Destination	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range	Flights	UK261
Frankfurt	2.0%	1.7%–2.3%	8,552	£220
Munich	1.2%	0.9%–1.5%	6,132	£220

Destinations with at least 100 scheduled Lufthansa flights in 2025; 4 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
Lufthansa	14,047	1.7%	1.5%–1.9%	230
Lufthansa City Airlines	669	0.3%	0.1%–1.1%	1

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.