Istanbul Airport (IST) surpassed London Heathrow Airport (LHR) as Europe's busiest airport in July 2026, according to official passenger statistics. Turkey's Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced on August 9, 2026, that Istanbul Airport welcomed 8.15 million passengers during the month. In contrast, figures published by London Heathrow indicated that 7.859 million travelers passed through its terminals in July 2026, representing a 1.5% decrease compared to the same period last year.
Following the release of the figures, London Heathrow Airport stated on August 11, 2026, that the case for its expansion has never been clearer. Airport officials emphasized that plans for a third runway will ensure that the United Kingdom maintains the infrastructure needed to remain globally competitive and deliver essential economic growth. Heathrow Chief Executive Officer Thomas Woldbye noted that expanding the airport will help guarantee that the country remains home to Europe's primary aviation hub while continuing to benefit from increased trade, investment, and tourism.
Daily traffic figures also highlighted the operational activity at both facilities. Enes Çakmak, Director General of the Directorate of State Airports Authority of Turkey, stated that Istanbul Airport recorded a single-day total of 289,732 passengers on August 9, 2026, marking a record daily peak. Meanwhile, Heathrow recorded its busiest day of 2026 on July 19, when 267,000 passengers passed through the airport, largely driven by the start of summer school holidays.
Additionally, Heathrow reported that new airline additions, including ITA Airways, Alaska Airlines, and Riyadh Air, collectively carried more than 136,000 passengers last month. Cargo operations at Heathrow also experienced their highest single-day volume of the year on July 12, 2026, with 5,000 tons of freight processed. Overall cargo volumes at the UK hub increased by 2% year-on-year, supported by sustained market demand from South Asia and North America.
