Business and traffic commentary Mar 2026
Summary by AI BETAClose X
Heathrow supports airlines and passengers through Middle East disruption
· Heathrow is supporting airlines and passengers as they adapt to airspace closures across the Middle East, including a 10% spike in transfer passengers. While Heathrow has temporarily absorbed demand from elsewhere, its growth remains slower than EU competitors as runway slots are full.
· Heathrow saw year on year growth last month despite continuing disruption, with 6.6m passengers, as demand shifted across Heathrow's long-haul network. The outlook for the next few months is uncertain, due to the ongoing conflict.
· The knock-on impacts to global supply chains, including fuel, have not affected airport operations. Heathrow will monitor the situation and liaise with Government and airlines to protect passengers' journeys.
· Despite today's headwinds, passengers continue to get great service. March's Skytrax awards saw passengers vote Heathrow as best in the world for shopping, 3rd best for security screening and rise five places to be ranked as one of world's best airports overall.
· Wednesday 25 March was the 80th anniversary of the first flight from Heathrow, when Starlight took off for Buenos Aires. Since then, it has welcomed more than 2.9 billion passengers, underpinned British exports including nearly £300bn of trade last year alone and been focal a point for moments in British history, from the Royals to sporting heroes and immortalised in film and TV.
Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye said:
"We're doing everything we can to support airlines and passengers as travel trends shift during the Middle East crisis. While Heathrow's long-haul network absorbed demand in March, the outlook for the next few months remains uncertain. I'm proud of what colleagues have achieved to quickly adapt and continue giving passengers a great service during difficult times."
|
|
Traffic Summary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Terminal Passengers |
Mar 2026 |
% Change |
Jan to |
% Change |
Apr 2025 to |
% Change |
|
|
|
Market |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UK |
390 |
4.3 |
1,079 |
2.1 |
4,610 |
0.0 |
|
|
|
EU |
2,232 |
11.6 |
5,926 |
5.4 |
28,717 |
2.9 |
|
|
|
Non-EU Europe |
483 |
11.5 |
1,385 |
5.8 |
5,633 |
1.0 |
|
|
|
Africa |
323 |
23.3 |
923 |
10.4 |
3,474 |
6.3 |
|
|
|
North America |
1,608 |
6.8 |
4,196 |
3.2 |
20,684 |
0.3 |
|
|
|
Latin America |
199 |
3.8 |
590 |
-1.5 |
2,152 |
-3.9 |
|
|
|
Middle East |
294 |
-51.1 |
1,799 |
-12.7 |
8,517 |
-0.5 |
|
|
|
Asia / Pacific |
1,116 |
31.1 |
3,027 |
12.3 |
11,354 |
5.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
6,645 |
6.9 |
18,925 |
3.7 |
85,141 |
1.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Air Transport Movements |
Mar 2026 |
% Change |
Jan to |
% Change |
Apr 2025 to |
% Change |
|
|
|
Market |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UK |
3,327 |
0.4 |
9,440 |
-4.0 |
36,957 |
-3.0 |
|
|
|
EU |
16,929 |
3.3 |
47,422 |
-0.7 |
209,247 |
1.3 |
|
|
|
Non-EU Europe |
3,622 |
2.3 |
10,542 |
-0.1 |
39,739 |
-2.1 |
|
|
|
Africa |
1,416 |
6.9 |
4,118 |
3.9 |
15,316 |
2.6 |
|
|
|
North America |
7,184 |
3.2 |
19,962 |
0.0 |
91,514 |
1.0 |
|
|
|
Latin America |
814 |
-0.9 |
2,394 |
-4.9 |
8,683 |
-6.3 |
|
|
|
Middle East |
1,295 |
-47.4 |
6,966 |
-8.6 |
31,050 |
-0.1 |
|
|
|
Asia / Pacific |
4,009 |
13.2 |
11,538 |
8.1 |
44,897 |
4.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
38,596 |
0.6 |
112,382 |
-0.4 |
477,403 |
0.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cargo (incl. Mail, Charter & Positioning flights) |
Mar 2026 |
% Change |
Jan to |
% Change |
Apr 2025 to |
% Change |
|
|
|
Market |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UK |
10 |
-93.2 |
43 |
-80.3 |
514 |
-4.5 |
|
|
|
EU |
6,623 |
-7.2 |
18,879 |
-1.1 |
73,491 |
-6.1 |
|
|
|
Non-EU Europe |
2,619 |
-16.2 |
7,363 |
-17.5 |
37,849 |
0.7 |
|
|
|
Africa |
9,489 |
14.3 |
23,849 |
3.2 |
95,875 |
-0.1 |
|
|
|
North America |
61,833 |
-0.1 |
166,074 |
-0.4 |
652,905 |
1.1 |
|
|
|
Latin America |
4,383 |
-11.8 |
12,670 |
-8.9 |
55,556 |
-1.7 |
|
|
|
Middle East |
10,434 |
-54.3 |
53,461 |
-14.4 |
247,045 |
-5.1 |
|
|
|
Asia / Pacific |
39,257 |
9.8 |
105,548 |
8.5 |
425,811 |
5.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
134,648 |
-6.6 |
387,887 |
-1.0 |
1,589,045 |
0.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
Latest directors dealings
- 1 day ago Savannah Energy
- 1 day ago Buccaneer Energy PLC
- 1 day ago Savannah Energy
- 1 day ago Carclo
- 1 day ago Schroder Japan Growth Fund