London Heathrow Airport handled 37.79 million passengers in the first half of this year, making it the world’s second busiest international airport after South Korea’s Incheon, according to data compiled by Airports Council International.
Incheon Airport handled 38.39 million international passengers in the first half of this year.
Industry insiders said London Heathrow Airport was “operating at capacity,” according to British newspaper The Independent.
Heathrow’s two runways are operating close to full capacity as the airport seeks government approval for a third runway, The Guardian reported.
Its £33 billion (US$38 billion) expansion plan would allow it to handle up to 150 million passengers annually.
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The Departure Hall in Heathrow Terminal 3 in London, Britain, Aug. 22, 2023. Photo by Reuters |
The airport said the project would provide the infrastructure needed to keep the U.K. competitive and support economic growth.
Incheon Airport serving South Korea’s capital Seoul has seen a surge in popularity partly due to the U.S.-Iran conflict, which has prompted airlines to divert passengers from Middle Eastern hubs such as Dubai to alternative routes through Asia, Korea Times reported.