- Heathrow recorded 7,859,408 passengers in July 2026, a 1.5pc decrease from July 2025.
- Istanbul recorded 8.15m passengers in July 2026, a 2.3pc increase from July 2025.
- Istanbul broke its single-day passenger record twice in July 2025, with 272,132 passengers on 27 July.
- Heathrow’s Middle East route passenger numbers fell 20.2pc year-on-year in July due to the Iran-US conflict.
- The London Government launched a consultation on Heathrow’s third runway expansion in June 2026.
Heathrow Airport has lost its position as Europe’s busiest airport to Istanbul. Figures published by the west London airport show 7,859,408 passengers passed through its four terminals in July, whereas its Turkish counterpart recorded 8.15m passengers over the same period. The Heathrow figures are down 1.5pc in 2025 and up 1.4pc on pre-pandemic levels, with the rolling annual total standing at 84,429,802, up 0.6pc on the twelve months to July 2025.
Istanbul handled 8,146,411 passengers in July 2.4pc ahead of July 2026 and 30.8pc ahead of pre-pandemic. Rolling annual was 85,333,871 passengers, 4.7pc ahead of the twelve months to July 2025.
Istanbul broke its single-day record on 25 July 2025 with 271,836 passengers and again on 27 July 2025 with 272,132 passengers. The hub processed 4.75m flight seats during the month and will open a fourth runway later this year. Annual figures from the trade body Airports Council International show Heathrow was Europe’s busiest airport from 1996 to 2019, losing that position in 2020 amid coronavirus travel restrictions before regaining it in 2023 and holding the title since then.
Heathrow’s July passenger total represented a 1.5pc decrease compared with the same month last year, whereas Istanbul saw a 2.3pc boost. The Iran-US conflict has had an impact on Heathrow’s passenger traffic, with numbers on Middle East routes in July down 20.2pc year-on-year. Despite this, Heathrow continues to operate its two runways at near-full capacity and is seeking Government permission to build a third. An expansion proposal by the airport’s owners would enable it to accommodate 150m passengers per year, compared with the 84.46m it recorded in 2025. Westminster transport minister Heidi Alexander launched a consultation on the renamed Heathrow expansion national policy statement in June, setting out the conditions needed for the project to proceed.
England’s prime minister Andy Burnham previously expressed concerns over Heathrow expansion, stating the plans divert infrastructure investment away from the North and trap it in London.
