Heathrow Passenger Numbers Dip as Iran War Fallout Impacts Travel

The Decline in Heathrow's Passenger Numbers

The number of passengers flying from London Heathrow fell last month, as war in the Middle East weighed on demand for international travel.

About 6.7 million people flew through the airport in April, a 5% drop compared with the same period in 2025 and its biggest annual fall since March last year.

Reasons Behind the Decline

The fall reflected the impact from the Iran conflict and “short-term adjustments to travel plans”, the airport said.

Transfer Passengers Rise

However, the number of transfer passengers transiting for onward flights rose 10% in April year-on-year, as travellers rerouting to Asia and Oceania switched to the Heathrow instead of using rival hubs in the Gulf such as Dubai and Doha.

The Impact of the Jet Fuel Crisis

The US-Israeli war on Iran has triggered travel disruption around the world, with flight cancellations, delays and longer journey times.

Meanwhile, fears are rising that the oil crisis resulting from the blockade of Gulf tanker shipping in the strait of Hormuz could lead to fuel shortages this summer and higher ticket prices.

Future Outlook

The chief executive of Heathrow, Thomas Woldbye, said travel demand “remains strong” and “current fuel supplies stable”. He added that while passenger numbers in April were weaker compared with the same month in 2025, so far it had been the busiest month at the airport this year.

However, Heathrow said it would review and update its passenger forecast for 2026 next month. Its latest estimate had suggested there would be 85 million passing through this year.