UK airports post record quarter as Gulf traffic plunges

New Civil Aviation Authority data shows UK airports welcomed more than 81 million passengers between April and June, a slim increase of around 123,000 – or 0.15% – over the same period last year. The modest gain was enough to set a quarterly record, yet the underlying traffic mix shifted dramatically.

Traffic to five Gulf markets fell by more than 40% overall, following the start of the Iran war. The UK-United Arab Emirates route dropped 42%, while Qatar was down 45%, Saudi Arabia 40%, Bahrain 54% and Kuwait 68%. Combined, those markets lost close to 1.5 million passengers.

Emirates saw UK passenger numbers fall 46% and Qatar Airways 42%. Dubai was especially hard hit, with traffic down 50%, causing the city to slip to 15th on the CAA’s international destination table, well below its usual ranking.

The decline in Gulf travel was offset by growth on low-cost carriers and European leisure routes, which helped overall passenger numbers stay in positive territory. This reshuffle meant that even Heathrow and Gatwick, the country’s busiest airports, recorded shrinking passenger totals during the quarter.

Manchester Airport, which has a strong base of European leisure services, was among those benefiting from the shift. The record quarter illustrates how UK aviation is adapting to geopolitical disruption rather than simply expanding across the board.