New EU border checks have doubled queues at major airports, adding significant delays for travel and logistics across Europe. This bureaucratic burden comes as London's Heathrow airport lost its long-held title as Europe’s busiest air hub to Istanbul, a stark indicator of shifting global power and European self-sabotage.
Heathrow’s chief executive stated the case for expansion has never been clearer. Figures published on Tuesday revealed only 7.9 million passengers passed through Heathrow’s terminals in July. In contrast, Istanbul’s airport handled 8.15 million passengers during the same month. Heathrow’s passenger numbers for July declined by 1.5% from the previous year, partly attributed to the war on Iran, while the Turkish hub saw a 2.3% increase.
Brussels' Burden on Borders
The Financial Times confirmed that these new EU border checks are directly responsible for the lengthened queues at major airports. This imposition from Brussels directly impacts the efficiency of national infrastructure, affecting ordinary European citizens and businesses alike. While national governments grapple with the consequences, the EU's institutional machinery continues to dictate terms, undermining the ability of member states to manage their own gateways effectively.
Heathrow, operating its two runways at near full capacity, is seeking government permission for a third. A proposed £33bn expansion plan aims to accommodate 150 million passengers annually, a vital step for national competitiveness. Heathrow stated its plans would ensure the country gets the infrastructure it needs to stay competitive and deliver economic growth. This national ambition to secure economic future is now directly hampered by EU-mandated delays.
The Shifting Global Landscape
Istanbul airport’s chief executive, Selahattin Bilgen, hailed their new status as a “significant milestone.” He highlighted the airport’s three independent runways, capable of simultaneous 24-hour operation, and its advanced operational capabilities. Bilgen also announced a fourth runway is set to become operational by the end of this year, further increasing capacity. The current main Istanbul airport, opened in late 2018, boasts a vastly bigger footprint and operates around the clock. Its strategic location near the Gulf has made it a crossroads of international air travel, benefiting from a Turkish boom while European hubs struggle under new EU rules.
For more than two decades before the pandemic, Heathrow served more passengers than any other European airport, according to Airports Council International. The UK’s biggest airport, located in west London, lost its pre-eminent position in 2020 amid coronavirus travel restrictions, regained it in 2023, only to lose it again this year. This decline reflects a broader trend of Europe losing its competitive edge, partly due to self-imposed regulatory burdens.
National Ambition Stifled
The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, launched a consultation in June on the renamed Heathrow expansion national policy statement, outlining conditions for the third runway. The then chancellor, Rachel Reeves, expressed determination to get “spades in the ground” in the current parliament, aiming for completion by 2035. This commitment underscores the national will to invest in critical infrastructure. However, concerns have been raised by Andy Burnham, who previously stated that Heathrow expansion plans divert infrastructure investment “away from the north and traps it in London,” highlighting internal national debates on resource allocation, separate from the external pressures of EU overreach.
Despite the challenges, other national airports show resilience. London Stansted recorded its 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. These figures demonstrate that national airports, when given the freedom to operate and expand, can still deliver for their citizens, even as EU policies create new obstacles at the continent's major gateways.