The recharge time is shorter if your batteries are fresh. It is also shorter if you use more expensive ones , like Duracell than cheap noname brands from discount stores, like "Ikea" and "Powercell". Actually, some devices refuse to run on cheap batteries.

To improve the charge time further, use 1900-2300mAh rechargables. They have higher peak amperes and last longer. I recharge once per month, while normal AA batteries go flat after one session. You can get some that keep charged when not used as well. Example figure from http://speedlights.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/yn460-ii_recycle_times_full_power_in_seconds.jpg

The fastest recharge I've ever done was when I rigged a flash to run off a car battery. It is not that portable, but for outdoor tripod work it is useful. You can also rig it to run from a PSU if you are near a powersocket.

You also gain recycle speed as you lower the power output, at a very good exchange rate. Two flashes of half power is the same light output but the recharge time for two half power flashes is faster than one full power. In my distant past testing, I lowered the recharge time to 25% as the power output was 50%.