In a notable shift among Europe’s major airports, Istanbul Airport surpassed Heathrow as the busiest in July, handling 8.15 million passengers compared to Heathrow’s 7.86 million. This change comes as Heathrow experienced a 1.5% decrease in passenger numbers from the previous year, while Istanbul Airport saw a 2.3% increase in traffic.
The dip in Heathrow’s numbers has been partly linked to disruptions caused by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. This development has intensified calls for the UK government to greenlight Heathrow’s proposed third runway. With the airport currently operating at near full capacity with its two existing runways, the £33 billion expansion plan aims to boost annual capacity to about 150 million passengers.
Heathrow officials argue that the latest passenger data underscores the urgent need to expand capacity to bolster the UK’s global connectivity, trade, and tourism. The airport’s management believes that without this expansion, the UK risks falling behind in international competition.
Meanwhile, Istanbul Airport, which began operations in 2018, benefits from a larger site and 24-hour operations. It currently has three runways in use, with a fourth expected to be operational by the end of 2026, further enhancing its capacity.
Elsewhere in the UK, London Stansted and Manchester airports reported their busiest Julys on record, with 3.1 million and 3.4 million passengers, respectively, marking a significant milestone in their operations.