UK Air Travel Payment Practices Soar Above Average, But Deep Divides Persist

The Numbers

• Companies analysed: 50
• Average PaymentCheck Score: 67.0/100
• UK average (all sectors): 50.0/100
• Difference between UK average and Air Travel: 17.0 points
• Top Payer: HARRODS AVIATION LIMITED - 96.1/100
• Bottom Payer: GKN AEROSPACE SERVICES LIMITED - 20.3/100
• Regional average: Yorkshire and The Humber - 77.0/100 (4 companies)

What Stands Out

The UK air travel sector significantly outperforms the national average when it comes to payment practices, achieving a PaymentCheck Score of 67.0, a notable 17 points above the UK's overall score of 50. However, the wide disparity between the best and worst payers suggests that not all suppliers are benefiting equally from this relative financial health, and some air travel firms are lagging behind the sector average.

Best Payers

1. HARRODS AVIATION LIMITED - 96.1/100
2. MARTIN-BAKER AIRCRAFT COMPANY LIMITED - 93.37/100
3. HEATHROW AIRPORT LIMITED - 90/100
4. JET2.COM LIMITED - 89.4/100
5. AEROTRON LIMITED - 88.8/100

Worst Payers

1. GKN AEROSPACE SERVICES LIMITED - 20.3/100
2. SHORT BROTHERS PLC - 22.4/100
3. SAFRAN SEATS GB LIMITED - 28.8/100
4. AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED - 33/100
5. AERO FABRICATIONS LIMITED - 36.6/100

Regional Patterns

Yorkshire and The Humber lead the way regionally, with an average PaymentCheck Score of 77.0 across four companies, edging out London and the South East, with scores of 76.0 and 75.9 respectively, but more data would be needed to see if those averages are statistically significant. Scotland's average of 74.4 across a single company, and the North East's 68.0, also from a single company, offer limited insight due to the small sample sizes.

Considering a late payment? Use our late payment calculator to figure out the interest you're due.

Key Takeaway

While the air travel sector’s 67.0 average payment score beats the UK average by 17 points, GKN AEROSPACE SERVICES LIMITED's 20.3 suggests some suppliers could be waiting nearly five times longer to get paid than Harrods Aviation.

2025: The Story

The air travel sector experienced a modest but positive shift in payment practices in 2025, with the average score for the 50 tracked companies improving by 1.4 points to 67.0/100. This slight upward trend masks significant changes within individual businesses. Marshall of Cambridge Aerospace Limited showcased a remarkable turnaround, dramatically improving its score by 26.6 points to 63.7/100, indicating a clear focus on strengthening supplier relationships. Conversely, airline giant Jet2 PLC saw a notable decline, dropping 10.2 points to 64.5/100. Interestingly, both Safran Landing Systems Services UK Ltd (+11.0 points) and Safran Helicopter Engines UK Limited (+5.9 points) posted strong gains, suggesting a potential group-wide emphasis on payment improvements. New market entrants also varied widely, with Harrods Aviation Limited debuting strongly at 96.1/100, while GKN Aerospace Services Limited entered at a challenging 20.3/100. Suppliers should remain vigilant, focusing on the individual payment trajectories of key clients and new players in this evolving sector.