London’s Heathrow Airport introduced on Monday (April 13, 2026) a ten% enhance in transit passengers throughout March because the U.S.-Iran conflict compelled Gulf nations to shut their airspace.
Complete passenger numbers, together with these utilizing Europe’s busiest airport to transit, climbed 6.9% to six.65 million final month in contrast with a yr earlier, Heathrow added in an announcement.
“Whereas Heathrow’s long-haul community absorbed demand in March, the outlook for the subsequent few months stays unsure” amid the battle, mentioned the airport’s chief government Thomas Woldbye.
Gulf airways Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways have constructed their enterprise mannequin on connecting passengers on long-haul flights throughout the globe.
However following the outbreak of the conflict on February 28, Iran fired missiles and drones at Israel and U.S. allies within the Gulf, reaching airports and different key infrastructure.
Iraq and Bahrain final week absolutely reopened their airspace amid the ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran.
Nevertheless, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar — whose Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha hubs deal with giant portions of long-haul flights — have maintained many restrictions.
Regardless of the absence of an entire truce, “the knock-on impacts to world provide chains, together with gasoline, haven’t affected airport operations”, Heathrow mentioned on Monday (April 13, 2026). — AFP