Think your connection is safe? These airports say otherwise

• London’s busiest airports rank among the lowest performers for connecting flights

• Smaller regional airports outperform larger hubs, led by Newcastle (8.85/10)

29 May 2026 – New AirHelp data reveals which UK and Ireland airports pose the greatest risk of missed connections – and where travellers may need significantly more buffer time than booking engines suggest.

Analysis of passenger claims from connecting journeys across the UK and Ireland examined where travellers were most likely to miss their onward flights. The findings show that some of the region’s busiest hubs – including Heathrow Airport and Dublin Airport – rank among the lowest performers for missed connections, highlighting the growing pressure on major international transfer hubs.

Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports, recorded a connection reliability score of just 4.69/10, while Dublin followed with 5.28/10, reinforcing the challenges faced by major global gateways handling high volumes of connecting passengers, often navigating larger layouts and more complex transfers such as terminal changes.

Other major London airports also ranked poorly. London Stansted recorded the lowest score overall at 4.31/10, followed by Gatwick at 4.95/10. Luton also ranked among the lower performers with 4.74/10, while London City recorded 5.92/10.

In contrast, less congested airports performed significantly better. Newcastle International topped the rankings with a score of 8.85/10, followed by George Best Belfast City at 8.18/10 and Glasgow International at 7.64/10, suggesting passengers travelling through smaller, less congested hubs are less likely to miss onward connections.

Meanwhile, mid-sized airports such as Manchester (6.67/10) and Birmingham International (6.85/10) ranked mid-table, indicating they may be balancing passenger volumes and operational pressures more effectively.

The findings highlight a clear pattern: airports handling the highest volumes of transfer passengers are often the most exposed to disruption, increasing the likelihood of missed onward flights. While booking systems may suggest connections of 35 to 60 minutes are sufficient, the reality for many travellers is very different – particularly during peak travel periods.

For passengers, missed connections remain one of the most stressful parts of flying. Severe weather, delayed inbound aircraft, technical faults, airport congestion and air traffic control disruption can all trigger a domino effect that leaves travellers stranded far from their final destination.

AirHelp stresses that these results should not be interpreted as a direct reflection of airport performance alone. In many cases, the original delay begins at the departure airport, but the missed connection is recorded at the transfer hub where the passenger misses their onward flight. This means disruption is attributed to the airport where the connection failed, rather than where the delay first occurred.

Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO at AirHelp, said: “Missed connections are one of the most stressful disruptions travellers face, and they often occur due to factors outside of their control.

“Our data shows that major airport hubs see higher levels of missed connections, largely because of the sheer volume of connecting passengers passing through them every day. That combination is exposing a growing gap between recommended connection times and the reality on the ground. While some transfers are scheduled with as little as 35 to 60 minutes, ongoing disruption means travellers must allow significantly more time, especially when passing through major hub airports.”

With peak travel periods approaching, AirHelp is urging passengers to plan ahead and factor in additional buffer time when booking connecting flights. Passengers should also be aware that not all missed connections are covered under compensation regulations such as UK261 or EC261, particularly when disruption is caused by extraordinary circumstances or due to their own actions, such as failing to reach the boarding gate on time despite no delays or issues with the flight.

However, if a delay causes a passenger to miss a connecting flight booked under the same itinerary, the airline is responsible for re-routing them to their final destination at no extra cost. Airlines must also provide care where necessary, including meals, refreshments and accommodation if an overnight stay is required. Passengers may also be entitled to compensation of up to £520 if they arrive at their final destination more than three hours late, depending on the cause of disruption.

Passengers can also use the AirHelp app to utilise flight tracking tools, disruption alerts and eligibility checks to monitor tight connections and understand their rights more clearly.

About AirHelp

AirHelp is a travel tech company tackling flight disruptions. Since 2013, it has won compensation for over 3 million passengers with a flight delay or cancellation. 12 million passengers have protected their flights with AirHelp+, and countless millions more benefit from the expert information freely available on airhelp.com.

AirHelp also recently released its free app, which offers real-time flight tracking, disruption alerts, and options for extra protection. An instant hit with travelers, the app has nearly surpassed 1 million downloads in its first year – you can download it here.

AirHelp is dedicated to investing in a greener future – it has pledged to plant 1 tree for every 100 flight disruptions and so far, it has planted over 200,000 trees. As air passenger rights advocates, AirHelp cares about people, and caring about people also means caring about the planet.

#1 source for flight compensation worldwide

With innovative artificial intelligence and a dedicated team of over 400 AirHelpers, AirHelp makes it easy for any traveller in the EU, UK and beyond to receive up to €600 for flight delays and cancellations. For more information about AirHelp, visit: https://www.airhelp.co.uk/

Methodology:

• AirHelp analysed missed connection data from passengers travelling on flights that formed part of a connecting itinerary, based on claims submitted through its platform during 2025.

• A missed connection refers to a passenger who self-reported missing their onward flight - the entity measured is passengers (PAX), not flights.

• Airports were scored by comparing the number of missed connections recorded against the total number of connections identified at each airport. This was then normalised to create a score out of 10, where a higher score indicates fewer missed connections within disrupted journeys.

• This analysis focuses on airports across the UK and Ireland.

• Recommended connection time data was sourced from Minimum Connection Time (MCT) data. These figures represent industry guidance and are not official airport