In a shift among Europe’s major air travel hubs, Istanbul Airport has overtaken Heathrow Airport as the continent’s busiest airport for the month of July. Istanbul Airport reported handling 8.15 million passengers, surpassing Heathrow’s 7.86 million. This change comes as Heathrow experienced a 1.5% drop in passenger numbers compared to the same period last year, whereas Istanbul Airport enjoyed a 2.3% increase in traffic.
Heathrow’s decline in passenger numbers has been partly attributed to disruptions linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The airport’s current capacity challenges have intensified calls for the UK government to approve a third runway. With its two existing runways operating near full capacity, Heathrow’s proposed £33 billion expansion aims to boost its annual capacity to approximately 150 million passengers, enhancing the UK’s global connectivity and economic potential.
Since its opening in 2018, Istanbul Airport has rapidly grown, benefiting from a larger site and 24-hour operations. The airport currently operates three runways and plans to open a fourth by the end of 2026, further increasing its capacity and appeal as a key transit hub in the region.
While Heathrow faces pressure to expand, other UK airports are seeing record passenger numbers. London Stansted and Manchester airports both reported their busiest July on record, with Stansted handling 3.1 million passengers and Manchester accommodating 3.4 million.