Heathrow said April passenger numbers fell about 5% year on year to 6.7 million, with Middle East traffic down more than 50% because of conflict-related disruption. Transfer traffic rose about 10%, and the airport will review its 2026 forecast in June.
Heathrow said April passenger numbers fell about 5% year on year to 6.7 million, with Middle East traffic dropping by more than 50% as conflict-related disruption reshaped travel patterns.
The airport’s latest monthly traffic release, published on May 11, said the shift reflected the impact of the Middle East conflict on some routes, along with short-term changes to travel plans.
What changed in April
Heathrow said transfer passenger numbers rose about 10% in April as some travelers rerouted through London. That means the airport saw a mix of weaker direct demand on affected routes and stronger hub traffic.
Reuters reported the same figures, saying Middle East traffic fell sharply while overall passenger numbers were down 5% year on year.
What happens next
Heathrow said it will review and update its 2026 passenger forecast in June.
The figures show how quickly geopolitical disruption can affect aviation demand, even at a major global hub that benefits from connecting traffic.
Major outlets including The Guardian, The Times and industry publications independently reported the April data on May 11.
Revision note
Initial automated publication.