Liverpool Airport scraps just 251 flights from 35,523 flights, making it 1 of UK's most reliable Airports

REMOTE Scottish Island Airports have been named the:- 'least reliable' for UK air travel, with Barra Airport recording the highest cancellation rate across Britain.

The findings by luggage shipping service My Baggage revealed Barra Airport scrapped:- 14.6% of its scheduled flights. This small Outer Hebrides facility faces unique challenges with its beach runway; the only 1 worldwide used for regular scheduled flights.

Tiree Airport claimed 2nd place with a:- 13.0% cancellation rate. The West Coast Scottish island hub cancelled:- 209 flights from its total:- 1,612 air traffic movements throughout the year.

Wick John O'Groats Airport in Scotland's far North ranked 3rd with:- 12.3% of flights grounded. The remote facility cancelled:- 130 services despite handling just:- 1,058 flights in total, showing how smaller airports struggle with harsh weather systems battering exposed coastal locations.

Campbeltown Airport on the Kintyre peninsula took 4th spot with a 10.2% cancellation rate. Records show 107 flights from its scheduled 1,049 departures never took off last year.

Islay Airport completed the Top 5 with 9.2% of flights cancelled. The island hub, famed for its whisky production, cancelled:- 114 flights from:- 1,235 total movements, frustrating visitors to Scotland's famous distillery Region.

Benbecula Airport in the Outer Hebrides placed 6th with an:- 8.9% cancellation rate. Though handling more traffic than other top ranked airports with:- 2,090 total movements, it still cancelled:- 186 flights over the year.

Alderney Airport claimed 7th spot with an:- 8.8% cancellation rate. This Channel Islands facility scrapped:- 375 flights from:- 4,282 scheduled services, making it the highest ranked non-Scottish airport on the list.

Humberside Airport in North Lincolnshire ranked 8th with:- 8.3% of flights cancelled. The regional transport hub cancelled:- 439 flights from its total:- 5,272 scheduled departures across the year.

Guernsey Airport placed 9th with a:- 5.1% cancellation rate. Despite handling:- 17,849 flights; considerably more than most airports in the Top 10, it still cancelled:- 916 scheduled services.

Stornoway Airport completed the Top 10 with:- 5.1% of flights cancelled. This main gateway to the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides saw 267 flights from 5,240 total departures grounded.

The picture changes dramatically at the other end of the scale where several UK airports boast exceptional reliability records with minimal flight disruptions.

Bournemouth Airport had just 0.1% of flights cancelled. The South Coast facility scrapped only:- 6 flights from:- 7,202 total departures, establishing it as 1 of Britain's most dependable air transport hubs for passengers seeking reliable travel options.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport matched Bournemouth's impressive:- 0.1% cancellation rate. The West Coast Scottish airport cancelled just 4 flights from:- 3,863 scheduled departures, defying the trend seen at its northern counterparts with 1 of the country's most consistent flight schedules despite challenging Scottish weather patterns.

East Midlands International Airport maintained strong performance despite handling significant traffic volumes with only:- 0.4% of flights cancelled. The Midlands hub cancelled just:- 181 flights from:- 45,476 scheduled departures throughout the year, demonstrating major airports can maintain reliability despite processing tens of thousands of flights annually.

Belfast International Airport achieved the same:- 0.4% cancellation rate while dramatically outperforming its City rival Belfast City Airport. International scrapped just:- 215 flights from:- 51,864 total movements while City recorded a:- 3.3% cancellation rate, showing significant variation between airports serving the same metropolitan area.

London Luton Airport processed over:- 100,000 flights yet maintained a strong:- 0.6% reliability record. The popular departure point cancelled just:- 599 flights from:- 102,597 total movements, making it 1 of London's most dependable air travel options despite its massive passenger throughput.

Norwich Airport matched Luton's:- 0.6% cancellation rate. The East Anglian facility scrapped just:- 81 flights from:- 13,293 departures, establishing it as 1 of England's most reliable regional transport hubs for passengers seeking consistent service.

Bristol Airport delivered solid performance with a:- 0.7% cancellation rate despite processing:- 71,134 flights throughout the year. Just 473 scheduled departures failed to operate at the Southwest Gateway, placing it among Britain's most trustworthy regional airports for passengers planning travel with minimal disruption risk.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport posted an identical:- 0.7% cancellation figure with:- 251 flights scrapped from:- 35,523 scheduled departures. This places the Northwest facility among the most reliable in northern England, offering passengers greater certainty when booking flights through this regional hub.

London Stansted Airport completed the Top 10 most reliable list with a:- 0.8% cancellation rate. The Essex hub processed nearly:- 189,000 flights yet cancelled only:- 1,482 departures, highlighting major airports can maintain high reliability standards despite massive operational demands.

Paul Stewart, Managing Director at My Baggage, said:- "These figures show the unique challenges faced by travellers using smaller regional airports, particularly those in remote locations with difficult weather conditions. The Scottish islands are particularly vulnerable to cancellations due to their exposed Atlantic locations. For passengers travelling through airports with higher cancellation rates, we recommend booking flights with longer connection times if transferring, considering travel insurance that specifically covers cancellations, and having contingency plans in place, especially during winter months when weather disruptions are more common."

The 'Mersey Valley Way' river walk

THE CLA (Country Land and Business Association) has commented on a new river walk, the 1st of 9 planned as part of the Government's manifesto pledge to create nine new walks, 1 for each Region of England. The 21 km 'Mersey Valley Way' which runs from:- Stockport, through Manchester to Trafford is part of the new:- 'National River Walk' scheme. Its opening in time for the star of 2026 will now benefit communities within Greater Manchester and the rest of the Northwest of England, who can use the walk, the length of a half marathon, for free! Its hoped that:- 'The Mersey Valley Way' will be a boost for local businesses by increasing visitor footfall, complementing wider regeneration work in the area as part of a plan for national renewal.

The Mersey Rivers trust will be the lead delivery partner on the Mersey Valley Way, working with:- Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, City of Trees, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, The Conservation Volunteers, Groundwork Greater Manchester and supported by Manchester City Council and Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council.

The CLA President Gavin Lane said:- "We welcome opportunities for the public to be able to responsibly access nature and the outdoors, using clearly signposted routes that are suitable for all users. We already have an impressive public rights of way network, and the |Government should prioritise upgrading existing riverside routes, which could be delivered quicker and with little cost to the public purse. We'd also like the UK Government to be more ambitious in funding permissive access options through Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes."

New signage along the route will mark out the Mersey Valley Way as a National River Walk. A competition to design the new logo for over 50 local Schools and youth groups along the Mersey has been launched, with a winner to be announced in February.

'National River Walk' scheme also includes at least £17 million to make access more inclusive in our forests, alongside the announcement of 2 new National Forests that have been created in 2025, with a 3rd to follow 2026.

Access Minister Baroness Hayman, said:- "Nature is a huge source of pride and enjoyment for people across the country, but too many people struggle to find ways to access the outdoors. We are changing that today, delivering on our manifesto pledge by launching the first of nine new national river walks, boosting opportunities to be in nature and supporting local businesses that line the routes. The Mersey Valley Way offers 21 kilometres of new paths for people in Manchester and Stockport to explore, be outdoors, and enjoy the nature on their doorstep."

John Sanders, Strategy and Development Director, at Mersey Rivers Trust, said:- "Mersey Rivers Trust and its delivery partners are very excited that the River Mersey has been selected as the 1st national River Walk. Over 3 million people live within a 1 hour journey of the Mersey Valley Way, which is accessible by the Greater Manchester public transport Bee Network as well as:- walk, wheel and cycle routes. Designating the Mersey Valley Way will encourage more people to access nature as well as enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of spending time by the river."

The ‘Mersey Valley Way' will have National River Walk status which brings community engagement benefits, such as guided walks and opportunities to volunteer on nature recovery work along the route with pond restoration, invasive species removal, tree planting and installation of bird, bat and insect boxes all planned.

Stretches of the existing river path will also be upgraded to meet accessibility standards for:- wheelchairs, mobility scooters, prams, cyclists and horse riders. Community engagement is a major aspect of the project, and the River Walk will be developed in consultation with community representatives and local businesses to ensure that the project benefits the local economy and people.

People on lower incomes, on average, are spending significantly less time in nature. With around 30,000 low income households in Stockport alone, this new River Walk will help people least likely to access the great outdoors and all of the health and wellbeing benefits it can offer.

The Government recently set out its ambition to recover nature in the revised Environmental Improvement Plan which sets out how we will tackle the nature and climate crisis, improve public health, and support sustainable growth, as well as boosting access to nature as part of the Plan for Change.

The next tranche of National River Walks will be identified through competition bids which go live in 2026.

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