London, United Kingdom — Heathrow handled 7.18 million passengers in September 2026, down 2.3% from a year earlier, even as the airport said more than 40 airlines were seeking access.
The figures, published in Heathrow’s 12 October traffic update, show a mixed picture beneath the airport’s renewed argument for expansion.
Asia-Pacific grows as overall traffic falls
Asia-Pacific passenger traffic increased 3.3% to 934,000. Middle East traffic fell 20.1% to 561,000. The release does not establish a cause for the overall decline.
Freight moved in the opposite direction: Heathrow handled 131,326 tonnes of cargo, up 5.4% year on year. Almost 1.4 million passengers transferred through the hub, according to the airport.
Access demand is a separate question
Airlines seeking access indicate demand for slots; they do not demonstrate that passenger volumes are growing across existing services. For airline planners, the distinction matters when assessing current performance against future capacity proposals.
Heathrow is pressing its expansion case while Parliament considers the policy framework. The monthly update announces neither new operating capacity nor an opening date.