The last three months of 2008 saw an improvement in the punctuality of flights leaving the UK according to the Civil Aviation Authority. London Heathrow improved its departure punctuality by 13%, though Edinburgh Airport remains at the top of the league with an on-time performance of 83%.

• Heathrow recorded a 13% increase in punctuality between October and December 2008, but Edinburgh airport was the UK airport with the highest on-time performance

• Every airport surveyed increased its percentage of on-time flights

• Charter flights at Gatwick were the only segment to see an increase in the average delay of flights

Average flight departure delay decreased from 13 minutes to only 4 minutes although flights to  Tenerife had the longest average delay of 24 minutes with an on-time performance of 67%.

Tenerife was also the only charter destination among the top 75 destinations and it attained an on-time performance of 67 per cent and an average delay of 25 minutes.

Stop messing about with your hand luggage you lot and get on the plane already!