Heathrow expects a 1.1% decline in passenger numbers and a £147m profit fall this year, attributing it to the Middle East conflict. The airport also disputes a Department for Transport report that significantly downplays the economic benefits of its proposed third runway.
Airport reports 5% decline but transit passenger business rises as fliers use hub to avoid Middle East airportsBusiness live – news updatesThe 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 last year. Continue reading...
Link Airways will suspend its Shellharbour–Melbourne and Shellharbour–Brisbane services from May 20, saying it is losing tens of thousands of dollars a day as fuel costs rise and passenger numbers fall.
Heathrow Airport has warned that passenger numbers for the remainder of 2026 will be impacted by uncertainty in the Middle East following the Iran war that began on 28 February. The west London airport handled 18.9 million passengers in Q1, up 3.7% year-on-year, which it attributed to temporarily absorbing demand from elsewhere. Revenue rose 2.3% to £844m, though operating costs increased 6.5% due to wages, national insurance, IT investments and passenger support. CFO Sally Ding said the airport is "full" and ready to progress its third runway plan.
A Bargi Dam cruise survivor alleges pilot and crew abandoned passengers before the boat sank, leaving them to fend for themselves. Despite a sudden storm, lifejackets were reportedly unavailable initially. Nine have died, six are missing, and a high-level probe has been ordered. Officials are struggling to confirm passenger numbers due to unregistered boardings.
Ryanair is closing its Berlin operating base and halving its winter schedule, citing uncompetitive German aviation taxes and high airport fees. The move will reduce annual passenger numbers from 4.5 million to 2.2 million.
