Finance
UK's Heathrow sees passenger numbers rising 0.6% this year
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 25, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 25, 2026
Tags:infrastructure
Quick Summary
Heathrow projects 85m passengers in 2026, a 0.6% rise from 2025, and urges a framework to attract private capital for its £33bn expansion. Government-backed third runway targets consent by 2029 and first flights in 2035.
Heathrow Projects 0.6% Passenger Growth to 85 Million in 2026
2026 Passenger Forecast
Outlook and Expansion Plans
LONDON, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Britain's Heathrow Airport said it expected to see 85 million passengers this year, representing growth of 0.6% as it heads into a key year for its 33 billion pound ($44.62 billion) bid to expand.
Runway Approval Timeline
Heathrow, the busiest hub in Europe, was given the green light to build a new runway by finance minister Rachel Reeves last year, starting a years-long planning process, with lawmakers due to vote on the issue later in 2026.
Ownership and Dividend Payouts
The airport, owned by owned by France's Ardian, the Qatar Investment Authority, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and others, said on Wednesday that for expansion to go ahead, the framework to incentivise private investment needed to be in place.
The owners received dividends totalling 550 million pounds during the financial year.
Revenue and EBITDA Update
This year's outlook compares to the 84.5 million passengers who used the airport last year, pushing up revenues to 3.6 billion pounds ($4.9 billion) on adjusted core earnings (EBITDA) which came in flat at 2 billion pounds.
Capacity and Runway Comparison
Located west of London, Heathrow is Europe's busiest airport and operates at close to full capacity. Its two runways compare with four each in Paris' Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt Airport, and six at Amsterdam's Schiphol.
Flights from Heathrow's new runway are targeted for 2035, with planning consent required by 2029.
Exchange Rate Note
($1 = 0.7395 pounds)
(Reporting by Sarah Young, Editing by Paul Sandle)
Key Takeaways
- •Heathrow expects 85 million passengers in 2026, up 0.6% from 84.5 million last year.
- •A £33bn expansion bid, including a new runway, has government backing with a vote due later in 2026.
- •Ownership includes Ardian, Qatar Investment Authority and Saudi Arabia’s PIF; £550m in dividends were paid for the year.
- •2025 revenue reached £3.6bn with adjusted EBITDA flat at about £2bn.
- •Operating near capacity with two runways, Heathrow says investment incentives are needed to proceed.
Frequently Asked Questions about UK's Heathrow sees passenger numbers rising 0.6% this year
1What is the main topic?
Heathrow Airport forecasts 85 million passengers in 2026—up 0.6%—while advancing a £33bn expansion that includes a third runway backed by the UK finance minister.
2Who owns Heathrow and were dividends paid?
Heathrow is owned by investors including Ardian, the Qatar Investment Authority and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Shareholders received £550 million in dividends for the financial year.
3When could the third runway open and what are the next steps?
Planning consent is targeted by 2029, with flights from the new runway aimed for 2035. Lawmakers are due to vote on the expansion later in 2026.
