PASSENGERS at Scotland's two busiest airports have faced increased delays this year, as the latest national statistics show punctuality falling across the UK.

The number of scheduled flights arriving and departing on time from Glasgow and Edinburgh airports has fallen from 84 per cent in spring 2013 to 81 per cent in spring this year.

An "on-time" flight is defined as being either early or within 15 minutes of its schedule. The figures are compiled by the Civil Aviation Authority.

The figures for Scotland were in line with punctuality rates at other regional airports, including Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow, but better than the London airports.

Only 77 per cent of flights at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City landed or took off on time between April and June this year, down from 80 per cent in spring 2013.

On average, passengers on delayed flights to and from the UK had to wait an extra 18 minutes before landing or take off.

Of the busiest routes, Rotterdam recorded the highest on-time performance with 88.3 per cent and Stavanger in Norway had the lowest average delay of 6.9 minutes.

Flights to and from Toronto had the lowest on-time performance with 59.7 per cent and the highest average delay of 25.5 minutes.