Remote Scottish island airports have been named the least reliable for UK air travel, with Barra Airport recording the highest cancellation rate across Britain.

The findings by luggage shipping service My Baggage revealed Barra Airport scrapped 14.6% of its scheduled flights. This small Outer Hebrides facility faces unique challenges with small aircraft, high winds and a beach runway – the only one worldwide used for regular scheduled flights.

Tiree Airport claimed second place with a 13.0% cancellation rate. The west coast Scottish island hub cancelled 209 flights from its total 1,612 air traffic movements throughout the year.

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Wick John O’Groats Airport in Scotland’s far north ranked third with 12.3% of flights grounded. The remote facility cancelled 130 services despite handling just 1,058 flights in total, showing how smaller airports struggle with harsh weather systems battering exposed coastal locations.

Campbeltown Airport on the Kintyre peninsula took fourth spot with a 10.2% cancellation rate. Records show 107 flights from its scheduled 1,049 departures never took off last year.

Islay Airport completed the top five with 9.2% of flights cancelled. The island hub, famed for its whisky production, cancelled 114 flights from 1,235 total movements, frustrating visitors to Scotland’s famous distillery region.

Benbecula Airport in the Outer Hebrides placed sixth with an 8.9% cancellation rate. Though handling more traffic than other top-ranked airports with 2,090 total movements, it still cancelled 186 flights over the year.

Paul Stewart, Managing Director at My Baggage, said: “These figures show the unique challenges faced by travellers using smaller regional airports, particularly those in remote locations with difficult weather conditions. The Scottish islands are particularly vulnerable to cancellations due to their exposed Atlantic locations.