Istanbul Airport has surpassed Heathrow Airport as Europe’s busiest airport, as evidenced by the passenger traffic in July. Heathrow served 7.86 million passengers during the month, falling short of the 8.15 million passengers handled by Istanbul Airport. This shift marks a notable development in the competition between major European airports.
The decrease in Heathrow’s passenger numbers, which dropped by 1.5% compared to July of the previous year, contrasts with the 2.3% increase observed at Istanbul. Factors contributing to Heathrow’s decline include disruptions related to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. This situation has reignited discussions on the necessity for Heathrow to expand its infrastructure to accommodate growing demand.
Currently operating at near-full capacity with its two runways, Heathrow has proposed a £33 billion expansion aimed at adding a third runway. This enhancement could potentially boost the airport’s annual capacity to approximately 150 million passengers. Heathrow officials emphasize that additional capacity is crucial for bolstering the UK’s international connectivity, trade, and tourism sectors.
Opened in 2018, Istanbul Airport benefits from a larger site and 24-hour operations. It currently operates three runways, with a fourth expected to become operational by the end of 2026, further solidifying its capacity to handle a growing number of passengers.
Elsewhere in the UK, both London Stansted and Manchester airports experienced a record-breaking July. London Stansted managed 3.1 million passengers, while Manchester handled 3.4 million, highlighting robust passenger traffic across the UK’s airport system despite the challenges faced by Heathrow.