Lisbon at the bottom: Almost half of the takeoffs were not on time. Photo: Shutterstock Travelers planning to fly through Europe, especially on flights that include stopovers, should pay attention to new data: A report published today (Tuesday, November 3) by the European Airports Association ACI EUROPE reveals significant differences in the punctuality of flights at major airports across the continent.
The report, prepared by the Airport Performance Network in collaboration with EUROCONTROL, analyzes takeoff and landing performance in September 2026 and presents a complex picture: while some airports maintain a high level of punctuality, others continue to deal with abnormally high rates of late departures.
One of the most notable figures in the report comes from Humberto Delgado International Airport in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal.
According to the data, only 53.6% of takeoffs at the airport departed on time during September. This means that 46.4% of departing flights exceeded the accuracy threshold set in the measurement.
This is extremely low compared with the average of the airports participating in the report, which was about 73% punctuality in takeoffs.
This figure places Lisbon in a particularly problematic position, given its status as an important aviation hub for flights between Europe, Latin America, and North America.
For passengers using the airport for connecting flights, the low level of accuracy highlights the importance of planning appropriate transfer times between flights.
Athens airport also presents worrying data. Photo: Amit CotlerLisbon is not the only one showing a low rate of on-time arrivals.
Manchester Airport in the UK recorded an accuracy rate of 55.9%, meaning more than four out of ten takeoffs exceeded the accuracy threshold.
At Naples Airport in Italy, the punctuality rate was 56%, while Athens, one of the main aviation hubs in the Mediterranean region, recorded 60%.
The data illustrates the operational challenges busy European airports face, especially during periods of high passenger traffic.
However, the report does not attribute all delays to a single factor, and it should not be concluded that every delay is caused by the airport itself. Delays may also be related to airlines, air traffic management, weather, and cumulative effects from previous flights.
Oslo Airport in Norway achieved an 85.7% punctuality rate for takeoffs. Photo: ShutterstockCompared to the low figures at some airports in Southern Europe and the UK, Scandinavian airports are performing exceptionally well.
Oslo Airport in Norway achieved an 85.7% punctuality rate for takeoffs, while Stockholm recorded 85.3%.
Copenhagen Airport in Denmark also performed strongly, with 84.6% of takeoffs on time.
The gap between Lisbon and Oslo is 32.1 percentage points, showing how much the travel experience can vary between airports on the same continent.
Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague had a 75% punctuality rate for takeoffs in September.
The figure is slightly higher than the overall average of the airports participating in the report, but still reflects a situation in which about a quarter of takeoffs exceed the accuracy threshold.
For travelers planning trips through Prague, this is a relatively moderate figure compared to Lisbon, Manchester, or Naples.
Prague Airport reported a 75% punctuality rate for takeoffs in September. Photo: ShutterstockTo understand the data, you need to know the measurement method.
In the aviation industry, it is customary to use the On-Time Performance index, which allows for a deviation of up to 15 minutes from the scheduled takeoff time.
That is, a flight that took off ten minutes late is still considered to have departed on time, while a flight that was more than 15 minutes late is not included in the rate of punctual flights.
Therefore, when the report indicates that almost half of the takeoffs in Lisbon were not on time, it does not mean that half of the flights were delayed by an hour or more, but rather that they exceeded the 15-minute threshold.
According to ACI EUROPE's general data, the average punctuality rate for takeoffs at the airports participating in the report was about 73% in September, while the punctuality rate for landings was about 76%.
The gaps between airports show that even when the European aviation network operates at scale, operational reliability is not uniform.
For passengers, especially those planning connecting flights, this has practical significance: choosing a flight route is not just about ticket price or planned flight duration, but also about schedule reliability and the time allocated to connect between flights.