希思罗机场7月份客运量为786万人次，首次被土耳其伊斯坦布尔机场的815万人次超越，失去了欧洲最繁忙机场的地位[1]。同期希思罗客运量较去年下降1.5%，而伊斯坦布尔机场实现2.3%的增长[1]。其中，希思罗中东线路客运量下滑更为明显，年同比下降20.2%[1]。
面对这一局面，希思罗机场强调了扩建第三跑道的迫切性[1]。该机场目前以两条跑道运营，已接近满负荷[1]。扩建完成后，机场年均承载能力将达到1.5亿乘客[1]。英国前财政大臣Rachel Reeves表示，目标在2035年前完成第三跑道建设[1]。据悉，英国运输部长已于6月启动了扩建方案咨询[1]。值得注意的是，希思罗自1996年至2019年一直保持欧洲最繁忙机场的地位，2020年因疫情丧失该地位，2023年重新获得，而今年7月再次失去[1]。
Heathrow Airport has lost its long-held position as Europe's busiest airport after Istanbul Airport surpassed it in passenger traffic during July 2024.[1] Heathrow handled 7.86 million passengers that month, compared to Istanbul's 8.15 million, marking the first time the Turkish hub has taken the top ranking.[1] The London airport's traffic declined 1.5 percent year-over-year, while Istanbul's grew by 2.3 percent during the same period.[1] Middle Eastern routes proved particularly challenging for Heathrow, with passenger numbers on those services dropping 20.2 percent compared to July 2023.[1]
The loss of its European leadership position underscores what airport executives say is an urgent case for expansion.[1] Heathrow currently operates two runways and has reached near-capacity with 84.46 million passengers handled throughout 2025.[1] A proposed third runway would enable the airport to accommodate 150 million passengers annually, according to plans under consideration.[1] The UK Transport Secretary initiated a consultation on the expansion scheme in June, and former Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated that construction of the third runway should begin within the current parliamentary term, with completion targeted for 2035.[1] Heathrow held Europe's busiest airport title from 1996 until 2019, briefly lost it during the pandemic in 2020, regained it in 2023, and now faces renewed competition following its July setback.[1]