London Heathrow Airport handled 23 million passengers during the peak summer period, as the airport continues to make the case for additional runway capacity amid demand for slots from more than 40 airlines.
Between June and August 2026, 23 million passengers travelled through the UK’s largest airport. August alone accounted for 7.87 million passengers, despite traffic being 2.1% lower than in the same month last year.
Heathrow also recorded its busiest-ever single day on August 2, when nearly 272,000 passengers passed through the airport.
Heathrow reports short security queues during peak summer
Despite a summer marked by disruption elsewhere in European aviation, Heathrow reported strong operational performance during its busiest period.
According to the airport, 98% of passengers waited less than five minutes at security, while 98% of bags departed as planned.
Heathrow also said it retained its position as Europe’s most punctual hub during the summer.
The airport handled 41,048 aircraft movements in August, down 1.3% year-on-year.
Passenger traffic for the first eight months of 2026 reached 55.72 million, 0.4% below the equivalent period in 2025.
Over the 12 months ending August 2026, Heathrow handled 84.26 million passengers, representing a 0.3% increase.
More than 40 airlines seeking Heathrow slots
Heathrow says demand for additional airline capacity continues to exceed what can be accommodated under its current two-runway operation.
More than 40 existing and prospective airlines are now seeking slots at the airport, according to Heathrow.
Xiamen Airlines became the latest carrier to join Heathrow in September.
The airport said approximately three-quarters of the new routes proposed by airlines seeking capacity would be long-haul services.
“The longest queue at Heathrow is now the one made up of over 40 airlines that want to better connect the UK but can’t secure a slot because our runways are full,” said Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye.
Heathrow is using the demand as part of its argument for expanding the airport, including additional runway capacity.
Middle East passenger traffic falls almost 20%
Heathrow’s August figures also reveal significant differences between individual geographic markets.
Traffic between Heathrow and the Middle East fell 19.8% year-on-year, to approximately 668,000 passengers.
For January through August, Middle East passenger numbers were down 23.6%.
By contrast, Asia-Pacific continued to grow. Heathrow handled approximately 989,000 Asia-Pacific passengers in August, up 1.2%, while traffic during the first eight months of the year increased 6.6%.
Africa recorded a 2% increase in August passenger numbers and 5.5% growth for the year to date.
North American traffic, one of Heathrow’s largest international markets, fell 1.1% in August but remained 0.5% higher for the first eight months of 2026.
European Union traffic was broadly stable in August, declining 0.3%, while increasing 2% for the year to date.
Heathrow cargo volumes increase
Cargo performance was stronger during August, with Heathrow handling approximately 137,115 metric tonnes, up 3.1% year-on-year.
Asia-Pacific cargo recorded particularly strong growth, increasing 13.3% in August and 10.3% during the first eight months of the year.
North American cargo increased 5.1% in August.
Middle East cargo volumes, however, declined 10.1%, while Latin American cargo was down 8.4%.
Overall, Heathrow processed more than 1.06 million metric tonnes of cargo between January and August, an increase of 1.1%.
Heathrow pushes case for expansion
The latest traffic figures arrive as Heathrow continues to argue for a major expansion of the airport.
The airport says its proposed expansion could support 108,000 jobs and increase trading capacity by 50%, while allowing additional airlines and routes to operate from the UK’s main international hub.
Those figures represent Heathrow’s own projections for the project rather than outcomes that have yet been independently established.
Environmental impact remains one of the central issues surrounding any expansion. Heathrow says future development would need to operate within limits covering carbon emissions, aircraft noise and local air quality and would face scrutiny through the planning process.
The consultation on the Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement has now closed, with the airport preparing to provide further evidence as the UK government and Parliament consider the future of the project.
“Expansion is a national project that will create jobs, unlock growth and make travel more affordable,” Woldbye said. “We are working with Government to deliver these benefits to every nation and region as quickly as possible.”
For now, Heathrow’s latest figures underline the central issue behind the expansion debate: the airport is already operating close to its available runway capacity while additional airlines are seeking access to one of Europe’s most important aviation hubs.
