Heathrow, the UK's busiest airport, is on the verge of losing its title as Europe's busiest airport to Istanbul, according to new figures. The west London airport recorded 7.12 million passengers in May, just 3,012 more than Istanbul, according to the Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe).
The decline in passenger numbers at Heathrow comes after a 1.2% decline from May last year, while Istanbul saw a 2% year-on-year boost. Heathrow's Middle East routes have been particularly affected, with a 25% decline in passenger numbers due to the ongoing Iran-US conflict.
The airport is seeking permission to build a third runway, which would enable it to accommodate 150 million passengers per year. However, this proposal is still under consideration by the government, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander launching a consultation on the Heathrow expansion national policy statement last month.
In contrast, Manchester Airport Group, which owns Manchester and London Stansted airports, has reported a sharp pull-back in passenger growth amid pressure on air travel due to the Iran war. Despite this, the group has seen a 1.9% increase in passenger numbers to 66.3 million for the year to March 31, with Manchester Airport seeing the most robust growth.
The decline in passenger numbers at Heathrow is likely to have implications for the UK's aviation industry, with the airport's owners seeking to mitigate the impact of the Iran-US conflict on their business.
For UK travellers, the changing landscape of Europe's busiest airports may lead to changes in flight prices and availability, particularly if Heathrow's passenger numbers continue to decline.