Gatwick Named Worst UK Airport for Delays (Again)
Gatwick Airport was the worst in the UK for flight delays in 2024, with an average departure delay of 23.6 minutes. While this marks a slight improvement from the previous year, ongoing air traffic control (ATC) issues both across Europe and at Gatwick itself continue to cause significant disruption.
Stansted and Manchester airports followed closely in the delay rankings, whereas Belfast City Airport stood out as the most punctual, recording average delays of under 12 minutes. Due to the nature of ATC disruptions being classified as “extraordinary circumstances,” affected passengers are not entitled to compensation.
The 10 worst UK airports on average for delays are:
- Gatwick – 23.6 minutes
- Stansted – 20.3 minutes
- Manchester – 20.3 minutes
- Southend – 20 minutes
- Birmingham – 19.9 minutes
- Bournemouth – 18.9 minutes
- Bristol – 18.8 minutes
- Cardiff – 18.6 minutes
- Luton – 18.6 minutes
- Heathrow – 18 minutes
Leicester Square Busking Ban
It was reported that around 30 buskers demonstrated in Leicester Square on 17th April due to Busking pitches in Leicester Square being shut down. This was following a successful legal challenge by Global Radio over noise nuisance concerns. The ban extends to all forms of street performance, including silent or non-amplified acts, prompting criticism from performers and arts unions. They are now calling on Westminster City Council to reconsider the decision and collaborate with artists to allow low-impact performances to continue, highlighting the cultural and economic value of busking in central London.
Derbyshire Controlled Explosion
Ammunition discovered in Sandiacre led to the evacuation of nearby homes and a controlled explosion carried out at West Park in Long Eaton. The British Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit safely detonated the item, which eyewitnesses believe may have been a World War II shell. While police have not confirmed the exact nature of the device or the number of homes affected, they assured residents that there is no ongoing threat to public safety.
Pound Sterling and the Euro were discussed during the week
The Pound Sterling (GBP) is currently trading around 1.1665 against the Euro (EUR), it was reported that this was supported by calmer market conditions and recent gains in the FTSE 100. However, outlooks remain divided. Some forecasts a weaker Pound, expecting the GBP/EUR rate to fall to 1.15 within the next 12 months, citing concerns over the UK’s fiscal position and potential shifts in bond yields. In contrast, other reports offer a more optimistic view, projecting a rise to 1.22 by the end of 2025, supported by a more stable economic outlook. It appears that analysts overall anticipate moderate volatility ahead, with UK gilt yields* particularly the 10-year being a key influence on currency movements.
*UK gilt yields show how much return investors get from UK government bonds, known as gilts. The yield is worked out by dividing the yearly interest payment (called a coupon) by the bond’s current price. For example, if a bond pays £10 a year and is selling for £200, the yield is 5%. Gilts are seen as a safe place to invest, but their yields go up and down depending on the market—when prices drop, yields go up, and when prices rise, yields go down. By December 2024, the total value of all UK gilts was around £2.6 trillion, making up a big part of the UK’s national debt. Gilt yields are important because they show how much income investors can expect and give clues about how risky the market thinks lending to the government is.
Average salary discussed
It was discussed that in the UK, the average salary tends to increase as people get older, with most people earning the most in their 40s.
According to data from the Office for National Statistics in 2024, the overall median salary for all employees is £31,602, while full-time workers earn a *median of £37,430 a year.
It showed that young people earn the least and those aged 16 to 17 make around £3,829 a year, mostly because of lower wages and part-time jobs.
As people gain more experience and move forward in their careers, their pay usually goes up. For example, workers in their 20s earn about £26,096, while those in their 30s earn around £33,924. It would appear that salaries peak in the 40s at roughly £37,128. After that, pay starts to slowly decline, with people in their 50s earning about £35,724, and those over 60 earning around £28,628.
*Median is the middle number in a set of data when it’s ordered from smallest to largest (or largest to smallest). For example, if you have the numbers 3, 7, 2, 8, and 4, you would first order them: 2, 3, 4, 7, 8. The median is 4 because it’s the number in the middle.
The median is great to use when your data has outliers (very high or very low values that don’t fit the pattern) or when the data is not evenly spread out. For instance, if you’re looking at the incomes in a neighborhood and there are a few billionaires, the median will give a better idea of a “typical” income than the average, which could be heavily influenced by those very high incomes.
In short, median is helpful when the data isn’t balanced, and extreme values could confuse the average.
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