UK Air Travel Payments: Performance is Up, But Disparities Persist

The Numbers

• Companies Analysed: 55
• Average PaymentCheck Score: 63.0/100
• UK Average: 50.0/100 (Air Travel average is 13.0 points higher)
• Top Payer: BRISTOW HELICOPTERS (INTERNATIONAL) LIMITED - 100/100
• Bottom Payer: GKN AEROSPACE SERVICES LIMITED - 21.3/100
• Yorkshire and The Humber average PaymentCheck Score: 78.2 (2 companies)
• South East average PaymentCheck Score: 73.7 (15 companies)

What Stands Out

The UK air travel sector is, on average, paying its suppliers considerably faster than the national average. However, a stark contrast exists between the best and worst payers, indicating a significant inconsistency in payment practices across the industry. This inconsistency suggests that while some companies prioritize prompt payments, others struggle or choose not to.

Best Payers

1. BRISTOW HELICOPTERS (INTERNATIONAL) LIMITED - 100/100
2. MARTIN-BAKER AIRCRAFT COMPANY LIMITED - 97.08/100
3. AIRTANKER SERVICES LIMITED - 92.3/100
4. HEATHROW AIRPORT LIMITED - 91.2/100
5. LOCKHEED MARTIN UK LIMITED - 90.9/100

Worst Payers

1. GKN AEROSPACE SERVICES LIMITED - 21.3/100
2. THOMPSON AERO SEATING LIMITED - 22/100
3. SHORT BROTHERS PLC - 26.9/100
4. METTIS AEROSPACE LIMITED - 27.3/100
5. SAFRAN SEATS GB LIMITED - 29.8/100

Regional Patterns

Regional data reveals a noticeable advantage for companies based in Yorkshire and The Humber, with an average PaymentCheck score of 78.2, substantially outperforming the national average and even the air travel sector's average. With only two companies factored into this score, it's an incomplete picture, but the South East and London regions, with significantly more companies (15 and 14 respectively), also perform strongly, suggesting a possible geographic influence on payment practices. The East Midlands, represented by only one company, has a PaymentCheck Score of 65.8, which sits close to the average.

Suppliers struggling with late payments can use a late payment calculator to work out interest and compensation.

One-liner: Despite an impressive sector average of 63.0, GKN AEROSPACE SERVICES LIMITED's dismal score of 21.3 highlights that not all companies within UK Air Travel prioritize fair payment practices.