China United, TAP Portugal, Saudia among airlines with most delays

Flight delays happen often and can certainly put a damper on the beginning or end of an otherwise perfect vacation. Based on a review of data compiled by FlightStats, which tracks monthly flight data by airline, 24/7 Wall St. has identified the airlines with the most delays.

When it comes to flight delays, not all air carriers are not created equally. Airlines have very different track records when it comes to delays because of their travel routes, weather and other factors. Delays can cause travelers to miss a connecting flight, a scheduled business meeting or simply eat away at their priceless vacation time – despite the high ticket prices travelers paid for the promised service.

Flight problems account for the biggest percentage of problems involving air travel, which are divided into three categories – flight delays, missed connections and cancellations.

To identify the airlines with the most delays, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the share of total flights that were delayed for at least 15 minutes in July by airline. Only major airlines were considered. They also considered the total number of flights that were cancelled and the average length of delays in July. All data came from airline data website Flightstats.

22. China Eastern Airlines

• Share of flights delayed in July: 35.0%

• Flights delayed in July: 72,446

• Average length of delay: 72 minutes

• Headquartered in: China

21. China Southern Airlines

• Share of flights delayed in July: 35.6%

• Flights delayed in July: 71,609

• Average length of delay: 77 minutes

• Headquartered in: China

20. Norwegian Air Shuttle

• Share of flights delayed in July: 35.8%

• Flights delayed in July: 11,098

• Average length of delay: 49 minutes

• Headquartered in: Norway

19. Juneyao Airlines

• Share of flights delayed in July: 35.9%

• Flights delayed in July: 11,002

• Average length of delay: 70 minutes

• Headquartered in: China

18. Beijing Capital Airlines

• Share of flights delayed in July: 37.2%

• Flights delayed in July: 8,514

• Average length of delay: 82 minutes

• Headquartered in: China

17. Air Algerie

• Share of flights delayed in July: 37.3%

• Flights delayed in July: 6,771

• Average length of delay: 48 minutes

• Headquartered in: Algeria

16. EasyJet

• Share of flights delayed in July: 37.3%

• Flights delayed in July: 58,635

• Average length of delay: 51 minutes

• Headquartered in: United Kingdom

15. EgyptAir

• Share of flights delayed in July: 37.8%

• Flights delayed in July: 7,107

• Average length of delay: 39 minutes

• Headquartered in: Egypt

14. Hainan Airlines

• Share of flights delayed in July: 38.2%

• Flights delayed in July: 25,102

• Average length of delay: 78 minutes

• Headquartered in: China

13. Vietnam Airlines

• Share of flights delayed in July: 38.5%

• Flights delayed in July: 14,579

• Average length of delay: 40 minutes

• Headquartered in: Vietnam

12. TUI Airways

• Share of flights delayed in July: 39.7%

• Flights delayed in July: 7,829

• Average length of delay: 52 minutes

• Headquartered in: United Kingdom

11. Air China

• Share of flights delayed in July: 40.9%

• Flights delayed in July: 43,878

• Average length of delay: 83 minutes

• Headquartered in: China

10. Thomas Cook Airlines

• Share of flights delayed in July: 42.1%

• Flights delayed in July: 4,912

• Average length of delay: 57 minutes

• Headquartered in: United Kingdom

9. EL AL

• Share of flights delayed in July: 42.3%

• Flights delayed in July: 3,479

• Average length of delay: 50 minutes

• Headquartered in: Israel

8. Saudia

• Share of flights delayed in July: 42.3%

• Flights delayed in July: 18,978

• Average length of delay: 55 minutes

• Headquartered in: Saudi Arabia

7. SpiceJet

• Share of flights delayed in July: 43.9%

• Flights delayed in July: 17,422

• Average length of delay: 72 minutes

• Headquartered in: India

6. Shenzhen Airlines

• Share of flights delayed in July: 44.0%

• Flights delayed in July: 23,525

• Average length of delay: 81 minutes

• Headquartered in: China

5. TAP Portugal

• Share of flights delayed in July: 46.7%

• Flights delayed in July: 12,897

• Average length of delay: 45 minutes

• Headquartered in: Portugal

4. Tianjin Airlines

• Share of flights delayed in July: 47.0%

• Flights delayed in July: 12,469

• Average length of delay: 75 minutes

• Headquartered in: China

3. Aegean Airlines

• Share of flights delayed in July: 47.6%

• Flights delayed in July: 5,441

• Average length of delay: 38 minutes

• Headquartered in: Greece

2. Xiamen Airlines

• Share of flights delayed in July: 51.8%

• Flights delayed in July: 21,939

• Average length of delay: 68 minutes

• Headquartered in: China

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1. China United Airlines

• Share of flights delayed in July: 54.9%

• Flights delayed in July: 6,042

• Average length of delay: 97 minutes

• Headquartered in: China

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