Heathrow on verge of being overtaken as Europe's busiest airport

Heathrow is on the verge of being overtaken as Europe’s busiest airport, with new ACI Europe figures showing the gap to Istanbul is narrowing. In May, the two airports recorded 7.12 million passengers each, leaving Heathrow only 3,012 behind its Turkish rival. Heathrow’s passenger total fell 1.2% from May 2025, while Istanbul rose 2% year-on-year. The article links weaker demand to the Iran-US conflict, noting Middle East routes were down 25% and Heathrow expects annual passenger numbers to decline 1.1% versus 2025. Despite this, Heathrow is operating both runways at near-full capacity and is seeking government permission for a third. Owners’ plans could support 150 million passengers annually, while a renamed Heathrow expansion policy statement is under consultation and a third runway is targeted for completion by 2035.