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

Of 2,442 scheduled Virgin Atlantic flights to and from Manchester in 2025, 1.6% (95% range 1.2%–2.2%) were cancelled (23) or at least 3 hours late (about 16). Other airlines at Manchester: 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

1.6%3+ hours late or cancelled

2,442scheduled flights 2025

81%on time or within 15 minutes

Compared with other airlines at Manchester

Flights in 2025	Scheduled	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range
Virgin Atlantic at Manchester	2,442	1.6%	1.2%–2.2%
All other airlines at Manchester	182,913	1.8%	1.72%–1.85%
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 Manchester. 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 Manchester

Airline	Scheduled flights	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range	Cancelled
Ryanair	49,642	1.2%	1.13%–1.32%	169
easyJet	41,058	2.0%	1.86%–2.13%	498
Jet2	22,951	0.9%	0.83%–1.08%	34
Aer Lingus	8,489	4.5%	4.0%–4.9%	293
Loganair	5,285	3.2%	2.7%–3.7%	129
British Airways	5,165	1.3%	1.0%–1.7%	58
Lufthansa	4,785	1.7%	1.4%–2.1%	70
KLM	4,151	2.6%	2.2%–3.1%	95

Virgin Atlantic flights at Manchester in 2025

Scheduled flights (both directions)	2,442
Cancelled	23
Operated but 3 hours or more late	about 16
On time or within 15 minutes	81% of operated flights
Average delay of operated flights	12 minutes

Departures and arrivals

Direction	Scheduled flights	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range
Departures from Manchester	1,220	1.5%	0.9%–2.3%
Arrivals at Manchester	1,222	1.7%	1.1%–2.6%

By destination

Destination	3h+ late or cancelled	95% range	Flights	UK261
Orlando	1.4%	0.8%–2.4%	902	£520
Atlanta	2.5%	1.5%–4.0%	608	£520
New York JFK	1.1%	0.6%–2.4%	608	£520
Bridgetown	1.8%	0.6%–5.2%	166	£520
Las Vegas	0.6%	0.1%–3.6%	154	£520

Destinations with at least 100 scheduled Virgin Atlantic 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.