UK airports hide huge traffic shift in records

THE NEWS: UK airports handled more than 81 million passengers in the second quarter (April‑June), an increase of almost 123,000 passengers (about 0.15%) from the same period last year, marking the highest passenger volume for any comparable quarter on record.

DETAILS:

• Traffic between the UK and the United Arab Emirates fell 42%.
• Traffic between the UK and Qatar fell 45%.
• Traffic between the UK and Saudi Arabia fell 40%.
• Traffic between the UK and Bahrain fell 54%.
• Traffic between the UK and Kuwait fell 68%.

WHY IT MATTERS: The record passenger total hides a sharp shift away from Gulf markets, which could reshape airline route strategies and revenue streams.

FAQ

How many passengers did UK airports handle in the second quarter?

UK airports handled more than 81 million passengers in the April‑June quarter, an increase of almost 123,000 passengers (about 0.15%) compared with the same period a year earlier, setting a record for any comparable quarter, according to the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

Which Gulf market experienced the largest decline in UK traffic in the second quarter?

Traffic between the United Kingdom and Kuwait dropped 68% in the second quarter, the steepest decline among the five Gulf markets tracked, according to new data from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

How much did UK‑UAE passenger traffic fall in the second quarter?

Passenger numbers on routes linking the UK and the United Arab Emirates fell by 42% in the April‑June period, reflecting a sharp drop in Gulf traffic after the start of the Iran war, as reported by the UK CAA.

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