New data from aviation analytics firm Cirium reveals that one in 69 departures have been axed in the past three months, a period impacted by significant industrial action.

Some 3,070 flights departing the UK were cancelled cancelled in the three months to 31 March 2023, equating to 1.45% of all scheduled flights. This compares with a rate of 0.91% in Q1 2019.

However, the UK’s cancellation rate – the number of cancelled flights as a proportion of all departures – has declined in the year to date, going down from 1.72% in 2022 to 1.45% so far in 2023.

Total Q1 flight cancellations are up 31% on the same period last year, from 2,340 to 3,070, and up 39% on Q1 2019 when there were 2,211 cancellations.

Since January, services have been cancelled for several reasons, including adverse weather and industrial action. Earlier this month, British Airways was forced to cancel 30 flights a day in the run up to Easter after more than 1,400 security guards went on strike over pay.