UK Airport Record Masks Sharp Drop in Gulf Traffic
UK airports set a record for Q2 passenger numbers, handling over 81 million, but growth was nearly flat at 0.15% year-on-year. The Iran war and a UK travel advisory caused a sharp collapse in Gulf traffic: UAE down 42%, Qatar down 45%, Saudi Arabia down 40%, Bahrain down 54%, and Kuwait down 68%, with the five markets losing nearly 1.5 million passengers combined. Emirates' UK passenger numbers fell 46% and Qatar Airways' fell 42%, while Dubai dropped out of the top 10 international destinations to 15th. Low-cost carriers and strong Western European demand offset some of the losses.
Impact and considerations
The data highlights the UK's reliance on Gulf hubs for long-haul connectivity and the vulnerability of business travel to geopolitical disruptions.
Key points
- UK airports handled over 81 million passengers in Q2, a record, but growth was only 0.15% year-on-year.
- Gulf traffic fell sharply: UAE -42%, Qatar -45%, Saudi Arabia -40%, Bahrain -54%, Kuwait -68%, losing nearly 1.5 million passengers.
- Emirates' UK passenger numbers dropped 46% and Qatar Airways' 42%, with Dubai falling to 15th among international destinations.
- Low-cost carriers easyJet, Ryanair, and Jet2 added 2.25 million passengers combined, while Western European demand surged.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- Skift
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 27 Aug 2026, 21:43
- Page published
- 27 Aug 2026, 21:53
- Last updated
- 27 Aug 2026, 21:43
- Original links
- Skift Feed：The UK’s Airport Record Hides a Huge Traffic Shift (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 27 Aug 2026, 21:43