Passenger numbers at London's Heathrow airport decline amid Middle East conflict

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London’s Heathrow Airport announced Monday that passenger numbers dropped in April as the Middle East war disrupted global air travel.

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The airport handled 6.7 million passengers last month, down 5.3 percent from one year earlier, Heathrow said in a statement.

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Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, said that the decline reflected “the ongoing impact of the Middle East conflict on some markets and short-term adjustments to travel plans.”

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“While we have seen some short‑term disruption linked to the Middle East conflict, demand for travel remains strong with current fuel supplies stable,” said the airport’s chief executive Thomas Woldbye.

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“April was still our busiest month so far this year, underlining the strength of a global hub airport that can adapt quickly in times of uncertainty,” he added.

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The number of transit passengers, however, rose 10 percent year-on-year in April, matching a similar increase recorded in the previous month, as passengers rerouted through London.

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Gulf airlines Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways have built their business model on connecting passengers on long-haul flights across the globe.

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But following the outbreak of the war on February 28, Iran fired missiles and drones at Israel and US allies in the Gulf, reaching airports and other key infrastructure.

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The operations of the Gulf airlines were severely disrupted, and some passengers chose to avoid travel through the Gulf region and opt for alternative transit routes.

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AFP

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