Heathrow Airport posts record 40 million passengers in H1 2026 despite profit dip

Heathrow Airport Limited reported a 5% fall in adjusted pre‑tax profit to £115 million (about €134 million) for the first half of 2026. Revenue was flat at £1.729 billion while operating costs rose 6.4% to £814 million, and adjusted EBITDA slipped 4.6% to £915 million.

Passenger traffic reached a record 40 million, up 0.2% year‑on‑year. Transit passengers grew 5.4% and cargo volumes increased roughly 1%. Demand shifted, with a 1.6% rise in North‑American flows and a 7.9% increase to Asia‑Pacific routes, while Middle‑East demand weakened.

Heathrow continues to press the British government for approval of a third runway, a project projected to create about 60,000 jobs and generate £40 billion of economic growth. The plan enjoys broad support from trade unions and 68% of the local population.