Istanbul Airport has overtaken Heathrow as Europe’s busiest airport, with passenger numbers in July reaching 8.15 million compared to Heathrow’s 7.86 million. This shift comes as Heathrow experiences a 1.5% drop in passenger traffic from the previous year, while Istanbul Airport saw a 2.3% increase.
The decline in Heathrow’s numbers is partly due to travel disruptions linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, highlighting challenges faced by the UK’s primary airport. This development has intensified calls for the UK government to move forward with Heathrow’s proposed third runway. Currently operating at near full capacity with its two runways, the addition of a third could potentially expand Heathrow’s capacity to accommodate around 150 million passengers annually, costing an estimated £33 billion.
Heathrow officials have emphasized that the latest passenger figures underscore the urgent need for additional airport capacity to enhance the UK’s global connectivity, as well as its trade and tourism potentials. In contrast, Istanbul Airport, which opened in 2018, benefits from a larger site and operates continuously with three runways, and a fourth runway slated to be operational by the end of 2026.
Meanwhile, other UK airports have reported significant activity, with London Stansted and Manchester airports experiencing their busiest July on record. Stansted handled 3.1 million passengers, while Manchester saw 3.4 million, reflecting broader travel trends within the country.