Airline delay rankings
U8 had the highest rate in September 2026: 14.2% of its flights reached the compensation threshold.
Updated 2026-10-02 · Press: support@flightcompensations.com
These airline delay rankings rank 167 airlines by the share of flights that reached the compensation threshold in September 2026: three hours late or more at arrival, or cancelled. U8 had the highest rate, at 14.2%. G9 had the lowest, at 0.0%.
Which airlines top the airline delay rankings for September 2026?
Each needs 200 or more observed flights to be ranked. Open any row for its month-by-month record.
| Airline | Flights | Qualifying | Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U8 (U8) | 358 | 51 | 14.2% | new |
| BZ (BZ) | 822 | 80 | 9.7% | new |
| IZ (IZ) | 896 | 54 | 6.0% | new |
| A2 (A2) | 523 | 28 | 5.3% | new |
| CJ (CJ) | 323 | 13 | 4.0% | new |
| NT (NT) | 1,143 | 40 | 3.5% | new |
| GA (GA) | 2,193 | 72 | 3.3% | new |
| Loganair (LM) | 1,373 | 43 | 3.1% | new |
| MF (MF) | 1,599 | 49 | 3.1% | new |
| T7 (T7) | 282 | 8 | 2.8% | new |
| Malaysia Airlines (MH) | 2,729 | 77 | 2.8% | +1.0 pts |
| LL (LL) | 8,156 | 229 | 2.8% | −1.1 pts |
| OM (OM) | 331 | 9 | 2.7% | new |
| British Airways (BA) | 27,016 | 719 | 2.7% | +1.1 pts |
| AR (AR) | 2,860 | 74 | 2.6% | new |
| China Airlines (CI) | 1,485 | 36 | 2.4% | new |
| H4 (H4) | 333 | 8 | 2.4% | new |
| GR (GR) | 384 | 9 | 2.3% | new |
| Virgin Atlantic (VS) | 4,750 | 108 | 2.3% | +1.0 pts |
| Japan Airlines (JL) | 6,906 | 154 | 2.2% | +1.3 pts |
| CS (CS) | 317 | 7 | 2.2% | new |
| easyJet (U2) | 37,599 | 826 | 2.2% | −1.8 pts |
| EC (EC) | 13,072 | 286 | 2.2% | −3.9 pts |
| Qatar Airways (QR) | 19,702 | 426 | 2.2% | −0.3 pts |
| American Airlines (AA) | 15,804 | 337 | 2.1% | +0.9 pts |
| DS (DS) | 1,508 | 32 | 2.1% | new |
| KLM (KL) | 25,411 | 537 | 2.1% | +0.8 pts |
| Air Transat (TS) | 1,065 | 22 | 2.1% | new |
| ITA Airways (AZ) | 13,443 | 276 | 2.1% | +0.9 pts |
| Vueling (VY) | 21,157 | 423 | 2.0% | −0.9 pts |
| SriLankan Airlines (UL) | 1,068 | 21 | 2.0% | new |
| Luxair (LG) | 2,916 | 56 | 1.9% | new |
| LATAM Airlines (LA) | 9,711 | 182 | 1.9% | 0.0 pts |
| TUI Airways (BY) | 3,454 | 64 | 1.8% | new |
| Cathay Pacific (CX) | 3,242 | 59 | 1.8% | new |
| Icelandair (FI) | 3,051 | 55 | 1.8% | new |
| IV (IV) | 225 | 4 | 1.8% | new |
| Qantas (QF) | 1,922 | 34 | 1.8% | new |
| RSC (RSC) | 906 | 16 | 1.8% | new |
| VA (VA) | 740 | 13 | 1.8% | new |
| Kenya Airways (KQ) | 6,553 | 115 | 1.8% | +1.3 pts |
| ZN (ZN) | 1,158 | 20 | 1.7% | new |
| G3 (G3) | 4,709 | 79 | 1.7% | +0.3 pts |
| RK (RK) | 1,786 | 30 | 1.7% | new |
| FJ (FJ) | 240 | 4 | 1.7% | new |
| Iberia (IB) | 31,751 | 523 | 1.7% | −0.6 pts |
| Vietnam Airlines (VN) | 2,090 | 34 | 1.6% | new |
| Delta Air Lines (DL) | 16,495 | 266 | 1.6% | −0.4 pts |
| HU (HU) | 621 | 10 | 1.6% | new |
| W4 (W4) | 8,445 | 135 | 1.6% | −0.2 pts |
| AS (AS) | 3,310 | 53 | 1.6% | +0.9 pts |
| Turkish Airlines (TK) | 7,832 | 123 | 1.6% | new |
| Ryanair (FR) | 61,604 | 946 | 1.5% | −1.4 pts |
| Aer Lingus (EI) | 9,599 | 145 | 1.5% | +1.5 pts |
| WB (WB) | 1,336 | 20 | 1.5% | new |
| Jet2.com (LS) | 9,486 | 141 | 1.5% | new |
| Air Dolomiti (EN) | 2,145 | 31 | 1.5% | new |
| China Southern Airlines (CZ) | 1,035 | 15 | 1.5% | +1.5 pts |
| Saudia (SV) | 5,153 | 74 | 1.4% | new |
| Brussels Airlines (SN) | 8,872 | 127 | 1.4% | new |
| Volotea (V7) | 6,740 | 95 | 1.4% | new |
| S4 (S4) | 2,794 | 39 | 1.4% | new |
| PR (PR) | 215 | 3 | 1.4% | new |
| KM Malta Airlines (KM) | 1,448 | 20 | 1.4% | new |
| Finnair (AY) | 11,540 | 152 | 1.3% | +1.0 pts |
| Transavia (HV) | 3,799 | 49 | 1.3% | +0.5 pts |
| J2 (J2) | 389 | 5 | 1.3% | new |
| PK (PK) | 1,172 | 15 | 1.3% | new |
| Air France (AF) | 21,572 | 271 | 1.3% | −0.5 pts |
| China Eastern Airlines (MU) | 6,914 | 87 | 1.3% | −0.1 pts |
| Korean Air (KE) | 2,228 | 28 | 1.3% | 0.0 pts |
| Etihad Airways (EY) | 9,357 | 117 | 1.3% | +0.2 pts |
| TO (TO) | 7,110 | 85 | 1.2% | +0.5 pts |
| W2 (W2) | 667 | 8 | 1.2% | new |
| Eurowings (EW) | 10,915 | 129 | 1.2% | new |
| SWISS (LX) | 15,423 | 180 | 1.2% | −4.0 pts |
| SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SK) | 21,331 | 248 | 1.2% | +0.6 pts |
| XK (XK) | 950 | 11 | 1.2% | new |
| airBaltic (BT) | 4,636 | 52 | 1.1% | new |
| Thai Airways (TG) | 3,936 | 44 | 1.1% | new |
| A0 (A0) | 445 | 5 | 1.1% | new |
| AM (AM) | 12,750 | 142 | 1.1% | +0.1 pts |
| Kuwait Airways (KU) | 629 | 7 | 1.1% | new |
| Air Canada (AC) | 15,675 | 173 | 1.1% | −0.6 pts |
| Widerøe (WF) | 2,856 | 31 | 1.1% | new |
| SP (SP) | 367 | 4 | 1.1% | new |
| Ethiopian Airlines (ET) | 3,612 | 39 | 1.1% | new |
| TU (TU) | 553 | 6 | 1.1% | new |
| W9 (W9) | 1,592 | 17 | 1.1% | new |
| United Airlines (UA) | 15,726 | 166 | 1.1% | −1.2 pts |
| Air Europa (UX) | 7,276 | 77 | 1.1% | +0.5 pts |
| Croatia Airlines (OU) | 4,134 | 44 | 1.1% | new |
| Air Serbia (JU) | 3,477 | 37 | 1.1% | new |
| Air Mauritius (MK) | 5,155 | 54 | 1.1% | +0.7 pts |
| All Nippon Airways (NH) | 5,574 | 58 | 1.0% | −0.2 pts |
| VL (VL) | 2,587 | 27 | 1.0% | new |
| OA (OA) | 771 | 8 | 1.0% | new |
| OZ (OZ) | 483 | 5 | 1.0% | new |
| TAP Air Portugal (TP) | 12,786 | 132 | 1.0% | +0.8 pts |
| WS (WS) | 5,230 | 54 | 1.0% | +0.4 pts |
| Oman Air (WY) | 906 | 9 | 1.0% | new |
| SM (SM) | 828 | 8 | 1.0% | new |
| SunExpress (XQ) | 5,434 | 52 | 1.0% | new |
| Bulgaria Air (FB) | 1,918 | 18 | 0.9% | new |
| DX (DX) | 638 | 6 | 0.9% | new |
| Air India (AI) | 3,893 | 36 | 0.9% | +0.3 pts |
| EL AL (LY) | 2,834 | 26 | 0.9% | new |
| Middle East Airlines (ME) | 985 | 9 | 0.9% | new |
| EVA Air (BR) | 886 | 8 | 0.9% | new |
| D8 (D8) | 5,405 | 48 | 0.9% | new |
| JetBlue (B6) | 1,006 | 9 | 0.9% | new |
| PM (PM) | 337 | 3 | 0.9% | new |
| Emirates (EK) | 4,588 | 40 | 0.9% | +0.9 pts |
| AV (AV) | 3,925 | 34 | 0.9% | +0.5 pts |
| Royal Jordanian (RJ) | 576 | 5 | 0.9% | new |
| UU (UU) | 2,807 | 24 | 0.9% | new |
| TUI fly Belgium (TB) | 1,172 | 10 | 0.9% | new |
| DI (DI) | 585 | 5 | 0.9% | new |
| Austrian Airlines (OS) | 13,657 | 115 | 0.8% | −1.4 pts |
| XZ (XZ) | 1,691 | 14 | 0.8% | new |
| AD (AD) | 3,888 | 32 | 0.8% | new |
| Royal Air Maroc (AT) | 2,667 | 22 | 0.8% | +0.8 pts |
| TAROM (RO) | 2,341 | 19 | 0.8% | new |
| Lufthansa (LH) | 33,166 | 264 | 0.8% | −0.5 pts |
| XC (XC) | 748 | 6 | 0.8% | new |
| JJ (JJ) | 252 | 2 | 0.8% | new |
| WK (WK) | 1,551 | 12 | 0.8% | new |
| HO (HO) | 653 | 5 | 0.8% | new |
| E4 (E4) | 919 | 7 | 0.8% | new |
| Norwegian (DY) | 10,932 | 80 | 0.7% | new |
| AH (AH) | 1,235 | 9 | 0.7% | new |
| PD (PD) | 558 | 4 | 0.7% | new |
| Singapore Airlines (SQ) | 5,763 | 41 | 0.7% | +0.7 pts |
| Gulf Air (GF) | 1,319 | 9 | 0.7% | new |
| Air China (CA) | 2,981 | 20 | 0.7% | +0.2 pts |
| EgyptAir (MS) | 2,068 | 13 | 0.6% | new |
| Condor (DE) | 5,196 | 32 | 0.6% | −0.7 pts |
| Wizz Air (W6) | 8,812 | 54 | 0.6% | new |
| VF (VF) | 1,163 | 7 | 0.6% | new |
| NZ (NZ) | 798 | 4 | 0.5% | new |
| LOT Polish Airlines (LO) | 10,041 | 46 | 0.5% | new |
| BJ (BJ) | 666 | 3 | 0.4% | new |
| OR (OR) | 679 | 3 | 0.4% | new |
| DK (DK) | 464 | 2 | 0.4% | new |
| CD (CD) | 239 | 1 | 0.4% | new |
| Aegean Airlines (A3) | 12,140 | 50 | 0.4% | +0.4 pts |
| VJT (VJT) | 252 | 1 | 0.4% | new |
| NO (NO) | 793 | 3 | 0.4% | new |
| Smartwings (QS) | 1,754 | 6 | 0.3% | new |
| SKY express (GQ) | 2,068 | 6 | 0.3% | new |
| I2 (I2) | 2,143 | 4 | 0.2% | new |
| Pegasus Airlines (PC) | 4,837 | 8 | 0.2% | new |
| X3 (X3) | 1,383 | 2 | 0.1% | new |
| XR (XR) | 768 | 1 | 0.1% | new |
| QY (QY) | 1,560 | 0 | 0.0% | new |
| EAI (EAI) | 1,155 | 0 | 0.0% | new |
| AEZ (AEZ) | 939 | 0 | 0.0% | new |
| RR (RR) | 484 | 0 | 0.0% | new |
| FH (FH) | 479 | 0 | 0.0% | new |
| WT (WT) | 474 | 0 | 0.0% | new |
| DJ (DJ) | 390 | 0 | 0.0% | new |
| NJE (NJE) | 358 | 0 | 0.0% | new |
| DT (DT) | 346 | 0 | 0.0% | new |
| XY (XY) | 343 | 0 | 0.0% | new |
| CY (CY) | 251 | 0 | 0.0% | new |
| JP (JP) | 250 | 0 | 0.0% | new |
| G9 (G9) | 239 | 0 | 0.0% | new |
The change column compares each rate with the month before, in percentage points.
How should you read the September 2026 ranking?
A rate is the share of an airline's observed flights that reached the threshold, so a small carrier and a large one compare fairly. These airline delay statistics count delays and cancellations together; the CSV in each monthly release splits them. Airline cancellation rates move with strikes and storms, so one bad month says less than a run of them. Open any row to see the months before.
How is the ranking made?
We record the scheduled and actual times of passenger flights at a panel of monitored airports. A flight qualifies when it arrived three hours or more late, or was cancelled; the airline can still refuse for extraordinary circumstances. The panel is a sample, so read the rates, not the totals. Each month is frozen in the monthly release, and the figures come from Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 thresholds. Check your own flight with the compensation calculator, or start a claim.
How can you cite the airline ranking?
Quote any figure freely. Attribute it to FlightCompensations, link to https://flightcompensations.com/data/airlines, and name the month. Press questions go to support@flightcompensations.com; Jaacov Sonenblick is available for comment.
Questions about these figures
Which airline had the most delays in September 2026?
U8 had the highest rate among the airlines we ranked: 14.2% of 358 observed flights arrived three hours or more late or were cancelled. A ranked airline needs 200 or more observed flights that month.
How is the airline ranking calculated?
We divide the flights that reached the compensation threshold by all the flights we observed for each airline that month. A flight reaches the threshold when it arrives three hours or more late or is cancelled. The panel is a sample of airports.
Can I quote the airline ranking?
Yes, free of charge. Name FlightCompensations as the source, link to this page or to the monthly release, and state the month beside the figure. For a cut we do not publish, write to support@flightcompensations.com and we will run it from the same records.
Sources
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 — the regulation itself, in every EU language