Heathrow Airport lost its position as Europe's busiest airport to Istanbul in July 2026, as the Turkish hub recorded 8.15 million passengers compared with Heathrow's 7.86 million. The London airport's passenger traffic fell 1.5% year-on-year, while Istanbul saw a 2.3% increase. Heathrow's Middle East routes were down 20.2% compared with July 2025.
Despite the slip, Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye said summer is "off to a flying start," with 19 July proving the busiest day of the year so far at 267,000 passengers. New carriers including ITA Airways, Alaska Airlines, and Riyadh Air began serving the airport last month.
Heathrow, which handled 84.46 million passengers in 2025, continues to push for a third runway that would allow it to accommodate 150 million passengers annually. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander launched a consultation on the expansion in June, though Prime Minister Andy Burnham has previously voiced concerns that the project diverts investment away from northern England.