UK Airports Hit Record 81.16 Million Passengers Despite Middle East Disruption

UK airports handled a record 81.16 million passengers between April and June 2026, new analysis of Civil Aviation Authority data shows.

The total represents the highest passenger figure recorded for the second quarter of a year, although growth compared with 2025 was extremely narrow.

Passenger numbers increased by around 120,000 year-on-year, equivalent to approximately 0.15%.

Behind that relatively small overall increase was a much larger change in where people were travelling and which airlines were carrying them.

Low-cost carriers and European routes recorded strong growth during the quarter, helping compensate for substantial reductions in traffic connected with the Middle East.

Ryanair carried around 17.1 million passengers through UK airports during Q2, an increase of 9% compared with the same period last year.

EasyJet carried approximately 16.4 million passengers, up 2%, while Jet2 recorded particularly strong growth of 9% to around 6.7 million passengers.

Together, Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2 carried approximately 2.25 million more passengers than during the equivalent quarter of 2025.

Western European routes accounted for around one million additional passengers, with destinations including Madrid, Barcelona, Alicante and Faro recording year-on-year growth.

For passengers travelling to or from airports across the UK, DM Airport Transfers provides pre-booked airport transfers and long-distance travel.

The Middle East moved sharply in the opposite direction as conflict and airspace disruption affected airline schedules.

Passenger traffic between UK airports and Dubai fell by around 50% year-on-year to approximately 736,000 passengers during the quarter.

Emirates carried 46% fewer passengers through UK airports, while Qatar Airways passenger numbers fell by 42% compared with Q2 2025.

North Atlantic traffic also showed some weakness. Passenger numbers between the UK and New York JFK were down around 14% year-on-year.

The record passenger total was accompanied by a deterioration in flight punctuality.

CAA data shows around 74% of flights operated within 15 minutes of their scheduled time during Q2, compared with 75% during the same period last year.

Average delays increased from 13 minutes to 14 minutes, while the proportion of flights cancelled within 24 hours of departure rose from 0.70% to 0.91%.

Performance deteriorated particularly sharply as the summer season developed. In April, 82% of flights were on time and the average delay was nine minutes. By June, only 66% were on time and average delays had increased to 20 minutes.

There were also significant differences between airports. Aberdeen recorded an on-time performance of around 86%, while Heathrow achieved 77%, Gatwick 73% and Stansted 72%. Manchester recorded approximately 66%.

The figures show that UK aviation managed to set another passenger record despite significant geopolitical disruption, but the headline number hides a substantial shift towards European leisure travel and low-cost airlines.

They also highlight the pressure building across the network as the summer peak approached, with record passenger demand coinciding with worsening punctuality and a higher rate of short-notice cancellations.

Thanks for visiting DM News! If you’ve got a question, a story tip, or anything you’d like to share, head over to DriverMatty.com — I love to hear from you. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out my other websites and social media channels.