Istanbul Airport has overtaken Heathrow Airport as Europe’s busiest hub, according to passenger numbers for July. While Istanbul Airport accommodated 8.15 million travelers, Heathrow saw 7.86 million, marking a shift in the rankings. This change comes as Heathrow experienced a 1.5% drop in passenger traffic compared to the same month last year, whereas Istanbul Airport enjoyed a 2.3% increase. Disruptions related to the Middle East conflict have been partly blamed for the decline in Heathrow’s figures.
The shift in rankings has sparked renewed calls for the UK government to approve the construction of a third runway at Heathrow. Currently operating at near full capacity with its two runways, Heathrow’s proposed £33 billion expansion project aims to boost its annual capacity to approximately 150 million passengers. Heathrow’s management argues that additional capacity is crucial for enhancing the UK’s global connectivity, as well as supporting trade and tourism.
Opened in 2018, Istanbul Airport benefits from a larger site and round-the-clock operations. It currently has three active runways, with a fourth anticipated by the end of 2026, allowing it to efficiently manage an increasing volume of passengers. This infrastructure advantage has helped Istanbul Airport to outpace Heathrow in passenger traffic.
In a related development, other UK airports have reported record-breaking numbers for July. London Stansted handled 3.1 million passengers, and Manchester Airport saw 3.4 million travelers, both marking their busiest months ever. Despite the setback at Heathrow, these figures suggest strong growth in passenger traffic across the UK’s airport network.