Heathrow says case for third runway ‘has never been clearer’ as it loses top spot to Istanbul

The case for a third runway at Heathrow ‘has never been clearer,’ the airport said today, after it lost its position as Europe’s busiest airport to Istanbul.

Figures published by Heathrow show 7.86million passengers passed through its four terminals last month, a 1.5 per cent fall compared with the same month last year. 

The Turkish city recorded 8.15 million passengers over the same period.

Heathrow held the top spot as Europe’s busiest airport between 1996 and 2019, before losing the title during the pandemic, and reclaiming it in 2023.

The west London hub said the Iran war weighed on traffic, with passengers on Middle East routes in July down 20.2 per cent year-on-year.

Despite this, Heathrow has kept its two runways at near-full capacity and is seeking the Government’s approval for a third, which it claims will help lift its passenger numbers to 150million per year. 

Heathrow reported a record 84.5million passengers in 2025. It currently expects 83.6million passengers through its terminals but recently warned it could be as low as 80.1million.

In June, it forecast profits for the year would be £147million lower than they were in 2025 and £60million less than expected in December – before the war broke out. 

In a statement, the airport said: ‘Heathrow is operating at capacity. 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.’

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander launched a consultation on the renamed Heathrow expansion national policy statement in June. 

She set out the conditions needed if the project is given the green light, including whether it can deliver UK-wide economic growth.

Andy Burnham previously raised concerns over Heathrow’s third runway, which he claimed would take investment ‘away from the North and traps it in London’.

Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye said summer was ‘off to a flying start’ but said the airport wanted to ‘go further’ by expanding its route network and passenger offering.