Heathrow Airport has reported that Istanbul Airport surpassed it in July to become Europe's busiest hub. The West London airport recorded 7.9 million passengers, a 1.5 per cent decrease compared to last year, while Istanbul Airport handled 8.15 million passengers.
Heathrow, which had been Europe's busiest airport since 2023, stated that the case for its expansion has "never been clearer." The airport is currently in a dispute with the regulator regarding its plans for a third runway.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander launched a new consultation on the expansion policy in June, outlining conditions for project approval. Former Chancellor Rachel Reeves had previously expressed a determination for the third runway to be built by 2035.
The airport's chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, has criticised the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for considering allowing rival firms to build the third runway and imposing stricter spending limits. Woldbye maintains that Heathrow's privately-funded expansion plans are the only way to unlock new capacity and long-term benefits.
Heathrow's passenger numbers on routes across the Middle East were down 20 per cent year-on-year in July, attributed to the Iran war and regional travel disruption. The airport also reported that its tax bill more than doubled in the past year, with Woldbye warning that tax increases could lead to higher fares for passengers.