UK airports set new passenger record despite Middle East disruption

UK airports handled a record 81.16 million passengers during the second quarter of 2026, with growth from low-cost airlines and European travel offsetting disruption to Middle East services.

New UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data released on 27 August shows passenger numbers between April and June increased by around 120,000 compared with the 81.04 million recorded in Q2 2025.

Ryanair and Jet2 both recorded 9% year-on-year passenger growth, while easyJet grew 2%. Together, the three low-cost airlines carried 2.25 million more passengers through UK airports than during the same period last year.

British Airways passenger numbers declined 1%, while TUI Airways was down 6% and Virgin Atlantic 2%.

European travel supports UK airport growth

Western Europe accounted for around 1 million additional passengers during the quarter, with Madrid traffic increasing 15%, Barcelona 11%, Alicante 8% and Faro 7%.

Middle East services were affected by regional conflict and airspace disruption. UK-Dubai passenger numbers fell 50% year on year, while Emirates carried 46% fewer UK passengers and Qatar Airways recorded a 42% decline.

Several UK regional airports also recorded passenger growth. Cardiff increased traffic by 16%, while Newcastle and Inverness were both up 8%. By contrast, passenger numbers at Heathrow fell 3% and Gatwick recorded a 6% decline.

Ross Lydall, spokesperson for the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “Demand for flying remains high, as passengers adjust their travel plans around global events.”

Operational performance weakened during the quarter. The proportion of flights operating within 15 minutes of schedule fell from 75% in Q2 2025 to 74%, while average delays increased from 13 to 14 minutes. Short-notice cancellations rose from 0.70% to 0.91%.

The CAA said the latest figures keep UK aviation on course for another record-breaking year.