Istanbul Airport has overtaken Heathrow Airport as Europe’s busiest hub, with passenger traffic figures for July revealing a shift in the rankings. During that month, Istanbul Airport welcomed 8.15 million passengers, surpassing Heathrow’s 7.86 million. This change comes as Heathrow experienced a 1.5% decrease in passenger numbers compared to July of the previous year, while Istanbul Airport saw a 2.3% increase in its traffic.
The drop in Heathrow’s numbers has been partly attributed to disruptions caused by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. This situation has intensified calls for the UK government to greenlight Heathrow’s ambitious expansion plan, which includes the construction of a third runway. Currently operating with two runways near full capacity, the proposed £33 billion expansion aims to boost the airport’s annual capacity to around 150 million passengers, enhancing the UK’s global connectivity, trade prospects, and tourism sector.
Opened in 2018, Istanbul Airport benefits from a larger site and operates 24 hours a day. It currently has three runways, and a fourth is anticipated to become operational by the end of 2026. This capacity and operational flexibility have contributed to Istanbul Airport’s ability to handle more passengers than its London counterpart.
Despite Heathrow’s slip in rankings, other UK airports have reported record-breaking figures. London Stansted and Manchester airports both celebrated their busiest July ever, with 3.1 million and 3.4 million passengers respectively. These numbers indicate robust passenger traffic at other major UK airports, even as Heathrow faces challenges.
