London Heathrow airport, the busiest hub in Europe, handled an average of 232,000 passengers each day in 2025.

But so constrained is the UK’s main arrival and departure point that it forecasts growth of less than 1 per cent during the current year to 85 million passengers.

Speaking to The Independent, Heathrow’s chief executive, Thomas Woldbye said: “We are reaching the upper level of our capacity. We want to grow more. We are growing less than the market, which I think is a real problem for the economy and for the UK.”

Istanbul airport in Turkey is expected to take Heathrow’s crown as Europe’s busiest airport in terms of passenger numbers during 2026.

Mr Woldbye said: “The third runway at Heathrow should have been built 10 years ago because we need it now. Now, we may get it in 10 years’ time.

“Hence why we are so focused on moving ahead with the third runway at pace because we really need it and the country really needs it.”

The airport is seeking permission to add to its two existing runways as part of a package of infrastructure improvements set to cost almost £50bn.

The expansion project has widespread opposition from environmental groups and residents who would be affected.

Dr Douglas Parr, policy director for Greenpeace UK, said ministers had “decided yet again to prioritise more leisure opportunities for a comparatively small group of frequent flyers.”

He said: “The rest of us have to live with the consequences of their disproportionate polluting.”

In addition, airlines argue that Heathrow’s plans are too expensive and that today’s passengers should not pay in advance for future infrastructure.

The bill for expansion comprises £21bn for the runway itself, which will involve diverting the M25 motorway and £12bn for new terminal infrastructure, together with £15bn for modernising existing infrastructure at the airport.

Mr Woldbye was speaking on the day Heathrow announced its financial results for 2025 – which saw a one-third fall in annual earnings.

The airport CEO said the passenger operation had run better than ever in 2025: “Ninety-eight per cent of our passengers waited less than five minutes in security, and we halved the amount of bags that didn't reach the intended flight.”

The airport says that is the most punctual hub in Europe, with 4.2 million more passengers flying on time last year than in 2024.

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