UK airports see record passenger traffic as aviation heads for its busiest year ever
August 28, 2025
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has reported a record 81 million passengers passing through the country’s airports between April and June 2025. This is the highest quarterly figure on record for passenger traffic.
Passenger traffic during the first six months of the year totalled 141 million, putting the industry on course for a record-breaking summer and signalling a full return to – and in many cases beyond – pre-pandemic (2019) demand levels.
Operational performance also showed marked improvement, with airline punctuality reaching its strongest level in recent years. According to the CAA 75% of flights are currently departing on time, an 8 % point increase when compared with 2024. April was a standout month with 82 % of services operating to schedule.
UK aviation sector is experiencing strong demand
Selina Chada, group director for consumers and markets at the CAA, said the “numbers were a great achievement” with the growth in the UK’s aviation sector reflecting both strong demand and sector-wide efforts to improve reliability.
“Reliable, on-time flights remain a priority, and it’s encouraging that delays are falling year-on-year,“ she said.
London Heathrow has also solidified its position as Europe’s most punctual major airport hub, with more flights departing on time than any other comparable airport. The airport is already the UK’s busiest hub, operating close to its capacity.
Growth in passenger traffic in the UK further supports the airport’s case for increasing capacity with a third runway. Not doing so could mean the UK loses out to rival hubs, including Amsterdam, Paris and Frankfurt.
Airlines UK chief executive, Tim Alderslade, said the latest figures underpin aviation’s role as a key growth driver for the country’s economy.
“These trends demonstrate the strength of aviation as a growth engine for the UK, boosting the regions and supporting our companies, all whilst delivering improved service standards.”
Regional airports show their resilience
While the UK’s primary gateway, London Heathrow, welcomed an unprecedented 39.9 million passengers in the first half of 2025, the CAA’s report also highlighted regional resilience, with northern airports seeing impressive gains. Collectively, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Leeds Bradford welcomed three-quarters of a million additional passengers compared with the same period last year.
“We are delighted the data shows that UK airports are busier than ever, and punctuality has significantly improved, as the industry surpasses levels last seen before the pandemic,” noted Karen Dee, chief executive of trade body, AirportsUK.
“Air travel sits at the heart of the economy, connecting friends and family, making sure that global tourism is possible, linking UK businesses with new and existing markets and transporting goods worth billions all over the world.”
In terms of passenger traffic, short-haul routes to destinations including Dublin, Amsterdam, Palma de Mallorca and Alicante were all credited with helping to boost growth.
The UK’s flag-carrying airline, British Airways, has itself noted growth between January and June with its half-year earnings increasing despite a £40 million hit from the closure of Heathrow in May following a fire at a nearby substation.
The airline reported a 48% increase in underlying operating profits to £84 million for the first six months to 30 June, up from £555 million in the previous year.
Freight expectations for the UK’s cargo sector
Cargo also demonstrated its resilience with a robust performance in the first six months of the year. Volumes grew 6% year-on-year, with nearly 700,000 tonnes shipped through UK airports in Q2.
Cargo links with Asia, particularly Mumbai and Delhi, saw strong growth with year-on-year increases of 61% and 41% respectively. Dubai, New York, Doha and Leipzig were all highlighted as popular freight destinations.
Alderslade added that the sector will “continue to prioritise passengers and freight customers and looks forward to working with Government to build on this momentum, so we can secure the future of aviation, the jobs it delivers and the world-class connectivity it provides.”
What does this growth mean for UK airports in the longer term?
The figures confirm UK aviation’s continued recovery trajectory and are a key indicator of recovery and expansion. This, in turn, will restore confidence among investors, airports and government stakeholders. Passenger growth also boosts regional airports, spreading economic benefits beyond the main city hubs.
The record passenger growth also strengthens the commercial case for airport ownership, with stakes in multiple UK air transport hubs either up for sale or recently sold.
In July, Spanish construction company Ferrovial confirmed it had completed the sale of its remaining 5.25% stake in London Heathrow to private equity group Ardian and Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.
The announcement followed Australia’s largest infrastructure investor – Macquarie Asset Management – confirming in June that it was acquiring stakes in three UK airports from Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. This includes a 25% stake in London City, a 55% share in Bristol Airport and a 26.5% stake in Birmingham.
Meanwhile, in March US private equity firm Blackstone struck a £325 million deal to acquire a 22% stake in AGS Airports, which owns and operates Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton.
