Heathrow April Passengers Down 5.6% on Middle East Conflict

London's Heathrow Airport reported a decline in passenger traffic for April, with 6.7 million travelers passing through its terminals, compared to 7.1 million during the same month a year earlier. Airport officials attributed the 5.6 percent drop primarily to disruptions from the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has severely affected aviation networks in the region.

The reduction stemmed from airspace closures, flight cancellations and extended routing as airlines navigated the crisis. Traffic to and from the Middle East fell by more than 50 percent, prompting short-term changes in travel plans. Despite the overall slowdown, connecting passengers at Heathrow rose by 10 percent. Many flyers rerouted through London to reach Asia and Oceania, bypassing major Gulf hubs such as Dubai and Doha amid the instability.

Heathrow Chief Executive Thomas Woldbye described the situation as temporary volatility. "We know passengers want certainty when planning their hard-earned summer holidays, so we are supporting government and airlines as they work through their plans to get passengers on their journeys," Woldbye said. He emphasized that demand for travel remains robust, with current fuel...