Heathrow airport outlook uncertain as Mideast conflict shifts passenger flows

Heathrow Airport forecast an uncertain few months ahead as capacity constraints crimp its ability to benefit from a shift in global aviation patterns resulting from the Iran war, with the west London hub saying its growth lagged European competitors as runway slots remain full, reports Reuters.
The UK's biggest airport handled 6.6 million passengers in March, up nearly 7 per cent from a year earlier, as it redirected traffic flows to cope with airspace closures across the Middle East.
"We're doing everything we can to support airlines and passengers as travel trends shift during the Middle East crisis," said Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye. "While Heathrow's long-haul network absorbed demand in March, the outlook for the next few months remains uncertain."
The UK government approved plans for a third runway at the airport last year, but with the broader planning process expected to drag on for years, it is not expected to be operational until at least 2035.
Heathrow warned in February that Istanbul will overtake it as Europe's busiest hub this year or the next as it works with two runways compared with Istanbul's five.
Heathrow said Middle East routes plunged 51.1 per cent while Asia-Pacific and Africa traffic rose 31.1 per cent and 23.3 per cent respectively, with the number of transfer passengers jumping 10 per cent as travellers rerouted their journeys.