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Compiling a list of the world’s most-delayed airports is no easy task. We again asked FlightStats, operated by Conducive Technology Corp.

Compiling a list of the world’s most-delayed airports is no easy task. We again asked FlightStats, operated by Conducive Technology Corp. in Portland, Ore., to pull on-time information for the world’s busiest 200 airports, as determined by ACI.

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM)

Worst arrival rank: 1

Percentage of on-time arrivals: 49.95 percent

For the second year in a row, Mumbai’s international airport โ€” India’s busiest โ€” tops our list as the world’s most-delayed airport in terms of arrivals. About 58 percent of its late arrivals in 2008 were delayed by 30 minutes or more, according to FlightStats sampling of the airport’s flights. In November, the airport opened a new taxiway to reduce the wait time for landing aircraft.

Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)

Worst arrival rank: 2

Percentage of on-time arrivals: 50.89 percent

Serving New Delhi, India’s capital, Indira Gandhi International saw 23.3 million passengers in 2007. A sampling of the airport’s flights shows that nearly 60 percent of its delayed flights were late by more than 30 minutes. In October, a third runway โ€” one of the longest in Asia โ€” became fully operational. The airport also plans a new terminal complex to be finished by the end of March 2010.

Mohammed V International Airport (CMN)

Worst arrival rank: 3

Percentage of on-time arrivals: 53.83 percent

Casablanca’s airport is one of the smallest on our list, serving 5.9 million passengers in 2007. But the airport, run by the Moroccan Airports Authority (ONDA), gets a low grade for on-time arrivals. More than 60 percent of its flights sampled by FlightStats in 2008 were at least 30 minutes late. Departures weren’t much better: 64 percent left on time.

Bengaluru International Airport (BLR)

Worst arrival rank: 4

Percentage of on-time arrivals: 60.16 percent

Give Bengaluru International some time to adjust to growing pains: The sleek new airport serving India’s high-tech capital opened in May. In 2007, the city’s old airport, which no longer serves commercial traffic, served 9.9 million passengers โ€” an astonishing 34 percent increased over the prior year. About 80 percent of its flights departed on time in 2008, an airport official says.

Orio al Serio International Airport (BGY)

Worst arrival rank: 5

Percentage of on-time arrivals: 60.55 percent

Orio al Serio is the smallest of the airports we examined โ€” just 5.7 million passengers passed through in 2007. It serves budget carriers to Bergamo, near the foothills of the Italian Alps, and nearby Milan. In 2008, 55 percent of delayed arrivals sampled by FlightStats were less than 30 minutes late. However, only 60 percent of its flights departed on time as well.

Beijing Capital International (PEK)

Worst departure rank: 1

Percentage of on-time departures: 47.86 percent

Beijing’s airport is among the world’s busiest โ€” nearly 54 million passengers in 2007 โ€” and it undoubtedly saw a massive increase in 2008, as the city hosted the Olympics. However, once again it holds a high spot on our list of worst departures. Of Beijing’s late departures, 45 percent were delayed by 30 minutes or more, according to a sampling of the airport’s flights.

Manchester Airport (MAN)

Worst departure rank: 2

Percentage of on-time departures: 49.11 percent

Northern England’s main airport saw more than 22 million passengers pass through in 2007, and it has more direct flights to global destinations than any other airport in the U.K. Unfortunately, it might take some extra time to reach those places. About 48 percent of its delayed departures were late by at least 30 minutes, according to a sampling of flights.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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