Heathrow airport has reported a sharp drop in passenger traffic, blaming the ongoing conflict in Iran for a 5% year-on-year decline in April.
London’s Heathrow airport has recorded a 5% fall in passenger numbers for April compared with the same month last year, attributing the drop to the war in Iran. The airport handled 6.7 million passengers during the month.
According to a statement from Heathrow, traffic from the Middle East fell by more than 50%. However, the number of transfer passengers rose by 10%, as some travellers altered their routes and opted for connections via London.
Last month, Heathrow warned that total passenger numbers for 2026 could fall short of expectations, despite a partial offset from additional transit demand.
The airport also said it would revise its 2026 passenger forecast in June.
Heathrow’s chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, described the impact of the conflict as a “short-term disruption” that had not affected underlying demand for air travel.
