New EU border checks have doubled queues at major airports across Europe, adding delays for travelers and logistics networks — while Heathrow airport lost its status as Europe's busiest hub to Istanbul, reigniting debate over expansion plans that critics say will deepen London's infrastructure advantage over the north.
Figures published on Tuesday showed 7.9 million passengers passed through Heathrow's terminals in July, compared with Istanbul's 8.15 million. Heathrow's passenger numbers for July fell 1.5% from the same month last year, partly due to the war on Iran, while the Turkish hub recorded a 2.3% increase.
The Financial Times reported that the new border checks have lengthened queues at major airports. The Guardian said Heathrow's chief executive argued the case for expansion has never been clearer after Istanbul overtook Heathrow as Europe's busiest airport by passenger numbers.
The Expansion Debate
Heathrow's two runways operate at near full capacity, and the airport is seeking government permission to build a third. A £33bn expansion plan would enable it to accommodate 150 million passengers a year. Heathrow said: "The case for expansion has never been clearer, as Heathrow was overtaken in July by Istanbul airport as the busiest hub in Europe. Our plans will ensure the country gets the infrastructure it needs to stay competitive and will deliver all-important economic growth."
The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, launched a consultation on the renamed Heathrow expansion national policy statement in June, setting out the conditions for the third runway to go ahead. The then chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said at the time that she was determined to get "spades in the ground" in the current parliament, and for it to be built by 2035.
But Andy Burnham has previously expressed concerns over Heathrow expansion, saying the plans divert infrastructure investment "away from the north and traps it in London" — a warning that resonates as regional airports report record growth without equivalent public investment.
Istanbul's Advantage
Istanbul airport's chief executive, Selahattin Bilgen, called the news "a significant milestone for our airport". He said: "Thanks to our three independent runways, which can be operated simultaneously 24 hours a day, our advanced operational capabilities and high capacity, we have successfully overcome the capacity constraints faced by many major global hub airports." He added: "With the addition of our fourth runway, which is set to become operational by the end of this year, we aim to take this growth even further by increasing the capacity we provide to airlines and passengers while elevating the quality of our services to the next level."
The current main Istanbul airport opened in late 2018 on a brand new site away from the city and residential neighbourhoods, gradually replacing the existing Ataturk airport as the main international hub. It has a vastly bigger footprint and is able to operate 24 hours a day. The Turkish boom also owes much to its location near the Gulf, which has become the crossroads of international air travel.
Regional Growth Without Recognition
For more than two decades before the pandemic, Heathrow served more passengers than any other European airport, according to annual figures from the trade body Airports Council International. The UK's biggest airport, located in west London, lost its pre-eminent position in 2020 amid coronavirus travel restrictions before regaining it in 2023.
London Stansted said it had recorded the busiest month ever in July, welcoming 3.1 million passengers, a 6.3% increase year-on-year. Manchester also had a record July, serving 3.4 million passengers — evidence that demand exists across the country, not just in the capital.
Why This Matters:
The debate over Heathrow expansion isn't just about runways — it's about where Britain invests and who benefits. Heathrow's loss to Istanbul highlights the competitive pressure on European hubs, but the solution can't be to pour tens of billions into London while regional airports break records without equivalent support. New EU border checks are already straining capacity across the continent, hitting passengers with longer waits and disrupting logistics. If expansion goes ahead, it must be part of a national infrastructure strategy that doesn't leave Manchester, Birmingham, and the north waiting for scraps. Istanbul's success shows what's possible with modern, high-capacity infrastructure built away from dense urban centers — a model that should inform British planning, not justify doubling down on the southeast. The government's promise to get spades in the ground by 2035 will be judged not just on whether Heathrow grows, but whether growth is shared.