BA records best ever September for punctual flights

More than half of British Airways' flights around the world departed early during the past month as the airline recorded its best ever September punctuality performance.

As well as being the best September on record, last month was also the most punctual since January 1994, with more than 87 per cent of flights departing early or on time.

The latest record performance builds on a strong summer at Heathrow where despite the airport having its busiest ever August and third busiest July, Terminal 5 performed exceptionally well throughout its first summer of full operations.

The record levels of punctuality has led to more than 75 per cent of customers now rating the airline's service as either very or highly satisfactory.

Andy Lord, British Airways' director of operations, said: "Our operations around the world continue to achieve the very highest standards and our customers are showing their appreciation.

"On some days we have seen up to 95 per cent of our shorthaul flights around Europe departing on time.

"Terminal 5 is a world class facility and its efficiency is proving a huge bonus to both our punctuality and reliability.

"As we have our two main UK homes at the world's busiest dual runway airport and the world's busiest single runway airport, the biggest cause of delays remains runway and air traffic capacity. We continue to work with Heathrow and Gatwick airport authorities and Air Traffic Control to ensure that delays to all carriers at these two airports are kept to an absolute minimum."