Published on

11/08/2026 – 16:45 GMT+2

Heathrow has lost its crown as Europe’s busiest airport, with Istanbul welcoming almost 300,000 more passengers than the London hub in July.

The shift comes as Heathrow has seen a summer dip in passenger numbers, particularly on Middle East routes, while its long-running push for a third runway gathers pace.

Figures, released annually by the trade body Airports Council International, reveal that Heathrow was Europe’s busiest airport from 1996 to 2019.

In 2020, it lost its top spot as coronavirus travel restrictions took hold. It regained its title in 2023 and held onto it until this year.

Now, though, the…

Read the full article at EURONEWS.COM