London Heathrow lost its crown as Europe’s busiest airport in July after passenger numbers fell to 7.9 million, overtaken by Istanbul Airport’s 8.15 million travelers. Airport executives argue the traffic drop makes the case for expansion has never been clearer, while political leaders remain divided over the third runway project.
How Istanbul Overtook London Heathrow in July
For more than two decades before the pandemic, Heathrow served more passengers than any other European airport, according to annual figures from the trade body Airports Council International. The west London transport hub held that pre-eminent position from 1996 until 2020, when coronavirus travel restrictions took hold. It regained the title in 2023, but the latest traffic figures show a reversal.
Figures published showed that 7.9 million passengers passed through Heathrow’s terminals in July, compared with Istanbul’s 8.15 million. While Istanbul recorded a 2.3 per cent boost compared to the previous July, Heathrow’s total fell by 1.5 per cent. Regional conflict weighed heavily on the London hub. Heathrow was particularly badly hit by the ongoing Iran-US conflict, with passenger numbers across Middle East routes down 20.2 per cent year-on-year in July.
By contrast, Istanbul Airport operates with a vastly bigger footprint built on a brand-new site that opened in late 2018. The Turkish hub runs three independent runways simultaneously 24 hours a day and plans to open a fourth runway by the end of the year.
The Fight Over a Third Runway and a £33bn Expansion
Heathrow currently operates its two runways at near full capacity. To capture future growth, the airport is seeking government permission to build a third runway under a £33bn expansion plan that would enable it to accommodate 150 million passengers a year.
Airport executives point to strong underlying demand despite the summer dip. On July 19, Heathrow recorded its busiest day of the year so far as schools broke up for summer, with 267,000 passengers passing through its terminals. Several new carriers also began serving the airport, including Italy’s ITA Airways, Alaska Airlines, and Riyadh Air, which the airport says demonstrates clear demand for access to Heathrow
according to BBC reporting.
“The case for expansion has never been clearer, as Heathrow was overtaken in July by Istanbul airport as the busiest hub in Europe. Our plans will ensure the country gets the infrastructure it needs to stay competitive and will deliver all-important economic growth.”
Heathrow Airport, via The Guardian
Political Clashes and Regulatory Disputes in Westminster
The path forward for the multi-billion-pound project remains politically fraught. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander launched a fresh consultation on the renamed Heathrow expansion national policy statement in June, setting out the conditions for the third runway to go ahead. Former Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated earlier this year that she was determined to get spades in the ground
in the current parliament, with the project completed by 2035.
Political friction extends beyond the treasury. Andy Burnham has previously expressed opposition to the expansion, arguing that the plans divert infrastructure investment away from the north and traps it in London.
At the same time, Heathrow management has locked horns with economic regulators. Chief Executive Thomas Woldbye criticized the Civil Aviation Authority after the regulator considered allowing rival firms to build the third runway and imposing tighter curbs on airport spending. Woldbye maintained that the airport’s privately funded proposal is the only viable path to deliver long-term benefits.
Record Traffic Elsewhere and Rising Aviation Costs
While Heathrow experienced a summer slowdown, other UK transport hubs posted record-breaking numbers. London Stansted welcomed 3.1m passengers in July, marking a 6.3 per cent increase year-on-year, while Manchester Airport served 3.4m travelers.
At the same time, airport leadership warned that rising fiscal pressures could hit consumers. Woldbye revealed that Heathrow’s tax bill doubled over the span of a year, cautioning that the aviation sector remains heavily taxed in Britain and that tax hikes will ultimately feed through to passengers through higher ticket fares.
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