Britain’s London Heathrow Airport on June 26 lowered its 2026 passenger forecast and warned that profit could decline this year, citing uncertainty in global travel demand and pressure from the conflict in the Middle East.
The story was reported by news agency Reuters, citing Heathrow Airport’s June 2026 investor update.
The war has had a significant impact on global aviation because the Middle East sits at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The disruption has hit major hub airports that rely heavily on long-haul connecting traffic.
London largest air gateway now expects to handle between 80.1 million and 84.5 million passengers in 2026, representing a 1.1% year-over-year decline and down from its previous forecast of about 85 million passengers.
Reuters also highlights that the airport is also expecting adjusted core profit to fall by £147 million (US$194 million) compared with 2025, and by £60 million versus its December forecast. These numbers reflect weaker traffic expectations and higher employment costs.
“This reflects the risk that continued volatility in the Middle East could dampen broader traffic volumes, with impacts extending beyond the region to global travel demand over the remainder of the year,” Heathrow said in a statement.
(«Source: Reuters)
