The UK’s airports are back in business. After years of pandemic disruption, passenger numbers surged through 2024, and the first half of 2025 shows the rebound holding steady. Long-haul flights, domestic connections, and international leisure travel all returned with force, prompting airports to roll out multi-billion-pound expansion and modernization programmes. From London’s Heathrow to Newcastle, operators are investing heavily in terminals, runways, cargo infrastructure, and sustainability initiatives, with a clear eye on the next decade of growth.
This ranking of the ten largest and busiest UK airports details their recent passenger traffic, current capacity, and the key projects shaping their future.
1. London Heathrow Airport- London
As the UK’s busiest gateway, Heathrow Airport continues to dominate both long-haul and international traffic. The airport handled roughly 71.6 million passengers in 2023 and surged to about 81.5 million in 2024, with 39.9 million in the first half of 2025 alone. Operating two full runways, Heathrow’s current infrastructure can manage roughly 80–84 million passengers annually, though plans for a third runway could push total capacity closer to 150 million.
Heathrow is pursuing a near-term £10 billion investment programme covering terminal expansions, cargo resilience, and sustainability upgrades, scheduled to 2031. Simultaneously, the airport continues to advocate for a long-term £49 billion expansion, including a third runway and new terminals, which would create tens of thousands of jobs and add substantial economic value over multiple decades.
2. London Gatwick Airport- London
Gatwick remains the UK’s second-busiest airport. Passenger traffic rose from 40.9 million in 2023 to 43.2 million in 2024, with early 2025 trends pointing to sustained growth. The single main runway handles current traffic efficiently, but capacity would increase substantially if the standby northern runway were activated.
A £2.2 billion project has been approved to make the northern runway operational, accompanied by terminal and access upgrades. Gatwick forecasts the scheme will create approximately 14,000 jobs and generate up to £1 billion in annual economic benefit when fully operational, potentially raising long-term capacity to the mid-70 million range.
3. Manchester Airport- Manchester
Manchester Airport is the UK’s largest outside London. Passenger numbers climbed from around 28.1 million in 2023 to 30.8 million in 2024, with a fiscal year total of 31.1 million to March 2025. The Airport was ranked as 19th busiest airport in Europe in 2023.
The £1.3 billion Manchester Airport Transformation Programme aims to expand terminal capacity, upgrade baggage handling and security, and modernize passenger facilities. The final £440 million phase focuses on terminal enhancements and operational resilience, supporting thousands of construction jobs and securing long-term capacity for regional growth and new routes.
4. London Stansted Airport- London
London Stansted posted a record 29.76 million passengers in 2024 and in October 2024 unveiled a five-year, £1.1bn investment programme — led by a £600m terminal extension — designed to raise throughput and passenger experience. The airport says the works could enable capacity to rise toward 43 million passengers (with further planning proposals exploring a longer-term uplift toward 51 million), and forecasts several thousand onsite roles from construction and future operations. The programme is being progressed in phases: planning submissions and public consultations are under way while enabling and early works move ahead.
5. London Luton Airport- Luton
London Luton Airport is an international airport located in Bedfordshire, England in Luton. The airport served roughly 16.4 million passengers in 2023 and 16.9 million in 2024, with early 2025 passenger trends continuing upward. Historically capped at 18 million due to planning restrictions, the airport received government approval in April 2025 to expand capacity to 32 million by the 2040s.
The expansion programme includes a new terminal, transport-access upgrades, and environmental mitigation measures. Luton anticipates generating up to 11,000 new jobs and £1.5 billion in annual economic impact when fully realized.
6. Edinburgh International Airport- Edinburgh
Edinburgh Airport, Scotland’s busiest, carried 14.4 million passengers in 2023 and 15.8 million in 2024, setting a record for the airport. First-half 2025 figures suggest continued strong performance, supported by new long-haul services.
Edinburgh’s £200m+ investment was rolled out as a multi-year programme whose flagship £75m terminal expansion (new gates, stands, arrivals halls and retail) was officially opened in June 2019.
7. Birmingham Airport- Metropolitan Borough of Solihull
Birmingham Airport handled approximately 11.5 million passengers in 2023 and reached 13 million in the 2024/25 financial year. Growth continues into 2025, supported by route expansions and improved connectivity.
Ongoing capital investment focuses on terminal resilience, security enhancements, and operational upgrades. The airport projects that these initiatives will generate thousands of construction jobs and sustain long-term employment as traffic and route offerings expand.
8. Bristol Airport- Bristol
Overtaking Glasgow Airport in 2019, Bristol Airport now ranks eighth in the UK’s top 10 largest and busiest airports.
Bristol Airport processed 9.9 million passengers in 2023 and exceeded 10.6 million in 2024. The first half of 2025 continues to show growth, with the airport consulting on its 2040 masterplan.
The masterplan targets terminal expansion, improved transport access, and the addition of long-haul routes. The full programme is expected to generate around £3 billion in gross value added and 1,000 new on-site jobs once fully implemented.
9. Glasgow International Airport- Glasgow
Glasgow Airport, Scotland’s second-largest, served roughly 7.4 million passengers in 2023 and 8.1 million in 2024. Summer schedules in 2025 indicate continued growth.
10. Newcastle Airport
Newcastle Airport carried approximately 4.9 million passengers in 2023 and around 5.2 million in 2024. First-half 2025 numbers continue to show positive growth.
The airport’s Masterplan 2040 sets out terminal extensions, additional stands, and cargo facility upgrades. With a focus on net-zero operations and staged growth, Newcastle projects that the plan could create thousands of supply-chain jobs and deliver significant regional economic impact by 2040.
Outlook
The UK’s airport sector is firmly in expansion mode. London’s hubs are pursuing multi-billion-pound investment programmes, including Heathrow’s near-term £10 billion terminal and resilience programme and Gatwick’s £2.2 billion second-runway activation. Luton’s 32 million-passenger approval, Stansted’s £1.1 billion upgrade, and Manchester’s £1.3 billion transformation demonstrate that regional airports are also positioning for growth.
These projects not only increase capacity but also create thousands of construction and operational jobs while stimulating broader economic activity. As airports modernize terminals, add gates, and improve cargo and passenger infrastructure, the UK strengthens its connectivity for business, tourism, and trade.
While the expansion wave promises economic gains, it also draws scrutiny over environmental impact, emissions, and community effects. The balancing act between growth and sustainability will shape British aviation well into the 2030s.
For travelers, investors, and regional planners, the message is clear: the UK’s airports are not just recovering — they are preparing for a decade of record-breaking travel and strategic infrastructure transformation.
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