Official data released by the UK Civil Aviation Authority on August 27, 2026, shows that UK airports handled a record 81.16 million passengers between April and June 2026 (Q2). Although the quarterly total represents a slight net increase of around 120,000 passengers—up 0.15% compared to the same period in 2025—the underlying market dynamics shifted significantly toward low-cost carriers and European short-haul routes amid geopolitical disruption in the Middle East.
Low-cost airlines drove the majority of passenger growth across UK airports during the second quarter. Ryanair recorded a 9% year-on-year increase, carrying 17.1 million passengers, while Jet2 also grew 9% to reach 6.7 million passengers. easyJet, the second-largest UK airport operator by volume, expanded passenger traffic by 2% to 16.4 million. Combined, these three carriers handled 2.25 million additional passengers compared to Q2 2025. In terms of flight activity, Ryanair operated roughly 9,000 additional air transport movements, easyJet added approximately 4,000, and Jet2 added around 2,000, while British Airways and TUI Airways reduced operations by approximately 2,000 and 1,000 movements, respectively.
Conversely, carriers and routes exposed to Middle East airspace disruption recorded substantial declines. Emirates carried 46% fewer passengers through UK airports during the quarter, and Qatar Airways recorded a 42% drop. Overall traffic on the Dubai route plummeted 50% year-on-year to approximately 736,000 passengers. Demand redirected primarily to European destinations, with Western Europe generating 1 million additional UK passengers, domestic flying adding 300,000, and Eastern Europe increasing by 200,000. Key European city and leisure destinations showed notable gains, including Madrid up 15%, Barcelona up 11%, Alicante up 8%, Faro up 7%, and Dublin up 5%.
The record passenger throughput was accompanied by deterioration in operational reliability across UK airports. Only 74% of flights arrived or departed within 15 minutes of schedule during Q2 2026, down from 75% in the prior-year period. Average flight delays rose from 13 minutes to 14 minutes, while the rate of flights cancelled within 24 hours of departure increased to 0.91%.
