Heathrow Passenger Traffic Drops 5% Amid Iran Conflict

London's Heathrow Airport handled 6.7 million passengers in April, a 5% drop compared to the same month last year, as the Iran conflict disrupted Middle East air travel, the airport said. Traffic to and from the Middle East plunged more than 50% due to airspace closures, flight cancellations and rerouted journeys, which the airport attributed to 'short-term adjustments' caused by geopolitical tensions.

Transfer passenger numbers rose 10%, as travelers avoided Gulf hubs like Dubai and Doha, instead using Heathrow as a rerouted connection point for flights to Asia and Oceania. Airport officials confirmed Heathrow has absorbed displaced transit demand amid the regional aviation crisis.

Jet fuel prices have nearly doubled from last year's levels following disruptions to tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, intensifying pressure on airlines. British Airways owner IAG said it may raise fares to offset rising fuel costs, while some carriers are cutting prices on European routes to sustain demand.

Heathrow's chief executive Thomas Woldbye called the downturn a 'short-term disruption' and noted April remained the airport's busiest month of 2024 so far. The airport will reassess its 2026 passenger forecast next month as uncertainty persists over the conflict and global travel conditions.