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

Of 23,140 scheduled Virgin Atlantic flights to and from London Heathrow in 2025, 1.7% (95% range 1.58%–1.92%) were cancelled (327) or at least 3 hours late (about 77). Other airlines at London Heathrow: 1.8%; the 95% ranges overlap, so the difference may be chance. Virgin Atlantic at all UK airports: 1.7%. 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

1.7%3+ hours late or cancelled

23,140scheduled flights 2025

82%on time or within 15 minutes

Compared with other airlines at London Heathrow

Flights in 2025	Scheduled	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range
Virgin Atlantic at London Heathrow	23,140	1.7%	1.58%–1.92%
All other airlines at London Heathrow	458,700	1.8%	1.77%–1.84%
Virgin Atlantic at all UK airports	25,707	1.7%	1.57%–1.89%

The 95% ranges overlap, so Virgin Atlantic 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
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
Eurowings	8,491	1.0%	0.8%–1.3%	78

Virgin Atlantic flights at London Heathrow in 2025

Scheduled flights (both directions)	23,140
Cancelled	327
Operated but 3 hours or more late	about 77
On time or within 15 minutes	82% 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	11,554	1.5%	1.3%–1.7%
Arrivals at London Heathrow	11,586	2.0%	1.8%–2.3%

By destination

Destination	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range	Flights	UK261
New York JFK	2.6%	2.1%–3.1%	3,958	£520
Los Angeles	1.9%	1.4%–2.6%	1,854	£520
Delhi	1.1%	0.7%–1.8%	1,458	£520
Mumbai	1.7%	1.2%–2.5%	1,458	£520
Miami	1.9%	1.4%–2.8%	1,436	£520
Orlando	1.6%	1.1%–2.5%	1,227	£520
Boston	0.8%	0.4%–1.4%	1,181	£520
San Francisco	1.3%	0.8%–2.2%	1,050	£520
Atlanta	2.5%	1.6%–3.9%	731	£520
Lagos	0.7%	0.3%–1.6%	730	£520
Bengaluru	0.8%	0.4%–1.8%	726	£520
Johannesburg	1.8%	1.0%–3.0%	726	£520
Tampa	0.8%	0.4%–1.8%	722	£520
Las Vegas	1.3%	0.7%–2.4%	716	£520
Washington Dulles	2.9%	1.9%–4.5%	708	£520
Seattle	0.5%	0.2%–1.3%	663	£520
Riyadh	0.4%	0.1%–1.3%	543	£520
Toronto	0.4%	0.1%–1.5%	497	£520
Montego Bay	8.9%	6.6%–12%	449	£520
Malé	1.4%	0.6%–3.2%	356	£520
Bridgetown	1.1%	0.4%–2.9%	352	£520
Cape Town	1.5%	0.7%–3.5%	327	£520
E T Joshua	0.6%	0.2%–2.3%	311	£520
Dubai	1.3%	0.5%–3.3%	308	£520
Antigua	0.4%	0.1%–2.1%	264	£520
Grenada	1.6%	0.6%–4.1%	245	£520

Destinations with at least 100 scheduled Virgin Atlantic flights in 2025; 10 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
Virgin Atlantic	21,891	1.8%	1.66%–2.02%	327
Virgin Atlantic International	1,249	0.2%	0.1%–0.7%	0

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.