New Report Reveals London Heathrow's Rank Among World's Busiest International Hubs.

London Heathrow Airport (LHR) has been named the second busiest international airport globally for 2025. This ranking comes from the OAG World's Busiest Airports report. The analysis is based on scheduled airline seat capacity for the full year. LHR is confirmed as a leading global aviation hub ranking.

Key Capacity Data

Heathrow recorded 49 million scheduled international seats in 2025. This figure represents a strong recovery and growth trend. It is a one percent increase compared to 2024 capacity. The capacity is also four percent higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This growth highlights the sustained demand for international travel through the UK hub.

When including domestic flights, Heathrow's total scheduled seat capacity reached 52.1 million. This total placed LHR as the fourth busiest airport in the world overall. It also retained its status as the European busiest airport. This is a significant achievement given its two-runway constraint.

The Global Leader

The top spot for the second busiest international airport ranking went to Dubai International Airport (DXB). DXB maintained its long-standing lead in international traffic. The Middle Eastern hub reported 62.4 million international seats in 2025. This gave DXB a lead of 13.5 million seats over Heathrow. The growth at Dubai International Airport (DXB) reflects the rapid expansion of its key airline partners.

Passenger Traffic vs. Capacity

It is important to note the difference between scheduled seat capacity and actual passenger numbers. The OAG report focuses on scheduled seat capacity. Separately, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) announced a Heathrow passenger record 2025. The airport handled a record 84.5 million total passengers last year. This is a new annual milestone for the West London facility. This number is 0.7 percent higher than the previous year's record. The airport also recorded its busiest single day ever in August. This discrepancy shows a high load factor on the 49 million international seats.

Challenges and Outlook

Heathrow's continued high ranking underscores its importance to the global aviation hub ranking. However, its two runways mean capacity is constrained. The airport continues to pursue its controversial expansion plans. This includes the long-planned construction of a third runway. The project aims to boost annual capacity significantly. The competition from Istanbul Airport (IST) remains strong. IST is rapidly emerging as a major global hub. The London Heathrow international airport must manage this competition. Maintaining operational efficiency will be key for future success. The airport was Europe's most punctual hub in 2025.

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