Busiest airports in the United Kingdom by total passenger traffic

The tables below contain CAA data from 2006 to 2009, on the busiest airports in the United Kingdom by total passenger traffic, including information on international, domestic and transit counterparts. The data also shows total aircraft movements and cargo volume handled at each airport.

London serves as the largest aviation hub in the world by passenger traffic, with five international airports, handling 130,307,938 passengers in 2009,^[1] more than any other city. London's second busiest airport, Gatwick, is the world's busiest single runway airport.^[2] The aircraft movement of London's combined gateways is second only to New York City in runway operations (number of takeoffs and landings).

The United Kingdom is home to many of Europe's largest and busiest airports as well as one of the busiest international airports in the world, London Heathrow Airport, which handles over 67 million international passengers annually.

1 40 largest UK airports by total passenger traffic
- 1.1 2009 / 2010 data
- 1.2 2008 / 2009 data
2 20 largest UK airports by total passenger traffic
3 Future airport expansion
4 See also
5 References

40 largest UK airports by total passenger traffic

2009 / 2010 data

The following is a list of the 40 largest UK airports in 2010, from final 2009 and 2010 CAA statistics.

Rank	Airport	Total Passengers 2009	Total Passengers 2010	Change 2009/10
1	London Heathrow Airport	66,036,957	65,881,660	0.2%
2	London Gatwick Airport	32,392,520	31,375,290	3.1%
3	London Stansted Airport	19,957,077	18,573,803	6.9%
4	Manchester Airport	18,724,889	17,759,015	5.2%
5	London Luton Airport	9,120,546	8,738,717	4.2%
6	Edinburgh Airport	9,049,355	8,596,715	5.0%
7	Birmingham Airport	9,102,899	8,572,398	5.8%
8	Glasgow International Airport	7,225,021	6,548,865	9.4%
9	Bristol International Airport	5,642,921	5,747,604	1.9%
10	Liverpool John Lennon Airport	4,884,494	5,013,940	2.7%
11	Newcastle Airport	4,587,883	4,356,130	5.1%
12	East Midlands Airport	4,658,151	4,113,501	11.7%
13	Belfast International Airport	4,546,475	4,016,170	11.7%
14	London City Airport	2,796,890	2,780,582	0.6%
15	Aberdeen Airport	2,984,445	2,763,708	7.4%
16	Leeds Bradford International Airport	2,574,426	2,755,110	7.0%
17	George Best Belfast City Airport	2,621,763	2,740,341	4.5%
18	Southampton Airport	1,789,901	1,733,690	3.1%
19	Glasgow Prestwick Airport	1,817,727	1,662,744	8.5%
20	Jersey Airport	1,491,424	1,463,221	1.9%
21	Cardiff Airport	1,631,236	1,404,613	13.9%
22	Guernsey Airport	937,391	923,683	1.4%
23	Doncaster Sheffield Airport	835,768	876,153	4.8%
24	Bournemouth Airport	870,754	751,331	13.7%
25	Exeter International Airport	795,721	744,957	6.4%
26	Isle of Man Airport	708,127	675,871	4.6%
27	Inverness Airport	591,397	530,213	10.3%
28	Norwich International Airport	430,594	425,821	1.1%
29	City of Derry Airport	345,857	339,432	1.9%
30	Newquay Airport	386,870	315,107	18.5%
31	Humberside Airport	336,649	283,160	15.9%
32	Scatsta Airport	270,101	279,482	3.5%
33	Blackpool Airport	276,866	235,340	15.0%
34	Durham Tees Valley Airport	289,464	226,209	21.9%
35	Kirkwall Airport	150,343	141,399	5.9%
36	Sumburgh Airport	140,714	140,129	0.4%
37	Plymouth City Airport	157,933	128,603	18.6%
38	St. Mary's Airport	120,909	115,194	4.7%
39	Stornoway Airport	123,199	113,680	7.7%
40	Penzance Heliport	85,911	89,469	4.1%
TOTAL		221,491,568	213,933,050	3.4%

Source: UK CAA Official Statistics^[3]

2008 / 2009 data

The following is a list of the 40 largest UK airports, which served 221,491,568 passengers annually in 2009, from 2008-2009 CAA statistics.

Rank	Airport	Total Passengers 2008	Total Passengers 2009	Change 2008/09	Aircraft movements 2009
1	London Heathrow Airport	67,054,745	66,036,957	1.5%	466,393
2	London Gatwick Airport	34,205,887	32,392,520	5.3%	251,879
3	London Stansted Airport	22,360,364	19,957,077	10.7%	167,817
4	Manchester Airport	21,219,195	18,724,889	11.8%	172,515
5	London Luton Airport	10,180,734	9,120,546	10.4%	98,736
6	Birmingham Airport	9,627,589	9,102,899	5.4%	101,221
7	Edinburgh Airport	9,006,702	9,049,355	0.5%	115,969
8	Glasgow International Airport	8,178,891	7,225,021	11.7%	85,281
9	Bristol International Airport	6,267,114	5,642,921	10.0%	70,245
10	Liverpool John Lennon Airport	5,334,152	4,884,494	8.4%	79,298
11	East Midlands Airport	5,620,673	4,658,151	17.1%	83,256
12	Newcastle Airport	5,039,993	4,587,883	9.0%	69,254
13	Belfast International Airport	5,262,354	4,546,475	13.6%	68,813
14	Aberdeen Airport	3,290,920	2,984,445	9.3%	109,876
15	London City Airport	3,260,236	2,796,890	14.2%	76,861
16	George Best Belfast City Airport	2,570,742	2,621,763	2.0%	39,330
17	Leeds Bradford International Airport	2,873,321	2,574,426	10.4%	53,817
18	Glasgow Prestwick Airport	2,415,755	1,817,727	24.8%	34,230
19	Southampton Airport	1,945,993	1,789,901	8.0%	45,502
20	Cardiff Airport	1,994,892	1,631,236	18.2%	27,003
21	Jersey Airport	1,625,660	1,491,424	8.3%	64,120
22	Guernsey Airport	945,441	937,391	0.9%	57,634
23	Bournemouth Airport	1,083,446	870,754	19.6%	82,538
24	Doncaster Sheffield Airport	968,481	835,768	13.7%	10,584
25	Exeter International Airport	956,251	795,721	16.8%	37,562
26	Isle of Man Airport	754,419	708,127	6.1%	40,539
27	Inverness Airport	678,776	591,397	12.9%	30,290
28	Norwich International Airport	583,056	430,594	26.1%	42,003
29	Newquay Airport	466,448	386,870	17.1%	12,835
30	City of Derry Airport	439,033	345,857	21.2%	10,286
31	Humberside Airport	427,648	336,649	21.3%	35,060
32	Durham Tees Valley Airport	655,017	289,464	55.9%	25,208
33	Blackpool Airport	439,200	276,866	36.9%	52,575
34	Scatsta Airport	243,087	270,101	11.1%	14,364
35	Plymouth City Airport	117,823	157,933	34.0%	19,763
36	Kirkwall Airport	149,508	150,343	0.6%	15,590
37	Sumburgh Airport	156,948	140,714	10.3%	12,159
38	Stornoway Airport	131,752	123,199	6.5%	11,627
39	St. Mary's Airport	122,863	120,909	4.0%	2,126
40	Penzance Heliport	98,360	85,911	12.7%	5,218
TOTAL		238,986,131	221,491,568	7.3%	2,799,377

Source: UK CAA Official Statistics^[4]

20 largest UK airports by total passenger traffic

2010 Data

Rank	Airport	Total Passengers	% Change 2009/2010	International Passengers	Domestic Passengers	Transit Passengers	Aircraft Movements	Freight (Metric Tonnes)
1	London Heathrow	65,881,660	0.3%	60,904,418	4,840,832	136,410	454,823	1,472,988
2	London Gatwick	31,375,290	3.1%	27,845,885	3,496,378	33,027	240,500	104,032
3	London Stansted	18,573,803	6.9%	16,838,683	1,723,337	11,783	155,140	202,238
4	Manchester	17,759,015	5.2%	15,424,948	2,237,593	96,474	159,114	115,922
5	London Luton	8,738,717	4.2%	7,796,057	937,785	4,875	94,575	28,743
6	Edinburgh	8,596,715	5.0%	4,162,932	4,431,517	2,266	108,997	20,357
7	Birmingham	8,572,398	5.8%	7,433,278	1,130,227	8,893	95,454	21,605
8	Glasgow International	6,548,865	9.4%	3,078,725	3,443,040	27,100	77,755	2,914
9	Bristol	5,747,604	1.9%	4,644,034	1,079,148	24,422	69,134	0
10	Liverpool	5,013,940	2.7%	4,203,065	804,879	5,996	68,164	265
11	Newcastle	4,356,130	5.1%	3,096,221	1,249,731	10,178	66,677	3,650
12	East Midlands	4,113,501	11.7%	3,532,444	578,085	2,972	69,452	273,630
13	Belfast International	4,016,170	11.7%	1,621,268	2,389,704	5,198	60,742	29,716
14	London City	2,780,582	0.6%	2,224,394	556,188	0	68,640	0
15	Aberdeen	2,763,708	7.4%	1,159,942	1,603,549	217	102,396	4,211
16	Leeds Bradford	2,755,110	7.0%	2,323,110	400,723	31,277	52,284	235
17	Belfast City	2,740,341	4.5%	62,850	2,677,455	36	40,324	155
18	Southampton	1,733,690	3.1%	668,850	1,064,703	137	45,350	116
19	Glasgow Prestwick	1,662,744	8.5%	1,314,420	345,526	2,798	33,087	12,163
20	Jersey	1,463,221	1.9%	72,502	1,356,296	34,423	61,739	3,027

Source: UK CAA Official Statistics^[4]

2009 Data

Rank	Airport	Total Passengers	% Change 2008/2009	International Passengers	Domestic Passengers	Transit Passengers	Aircraft Movements	Freight (Metric Tonnes)
1	London Heathrow	66,036,957	1.5%	60,652,036	5,254,605	130,316	466,393	1,277,650
2	London Gatwick	32,392,520	5.3%	28,698,660	3,662,113	31,747	251,879	74,680
3	London Stansted	19,957,077	10.7%	18,054,748	1,894,941	7,388	167,817	182,810
4	Manchester	18,724,889	11.8%	16,063,891	2,566,503	94,495	172,515	102,543
5	London Luton	9,120,546	10.4%	7,937,319	1,178,008	5,219	98,736	28,643
6	Birmingham	9,102,899	5.4%	7,773,643	1,319,558	9,698	101,221	13,070
7	Edinburgh	9,049,355	0.5%	4,136,677	4,906,775	5,903	115,969	23,791
8	Glasgow International	7,225,021	11.7%	3,423,174	3,790,223	11,624	85,281	2,334
9	Bristol	5,642,921	10.0%	4,506,808	1,108,392	27,721	70,245	0
10	Liverpool	4,884,494	8.4%	4,078,795	800,673	5,026	79,298	264
11	East Midlands	4,658,151	17.1%	4,019,364	633,327	5,460	83,256	255,121
12	Newcastle	4,587,883	9.0%	3,158,477	1,410,142	19,264	69,254	2,597
13	Belfast International	4,546,475	13.6%	1,667,738	2,868,760	9,977	68,813	29,804
14	Aberdeen	2,984,445	9.3%	1,286,843	1,696,950	652	109,876	3,822
15	London City	2,796,890	14.2%	2,204,731	592,159	0	76,861	0
16	Belfast City	2,621,763	2.0%	55,251	2,566,482	30	39,330	138
17	Leeds Bradford	2,574,426	10.4%	2,098,479	454,118	21,829	53,817	359
18	Glasgow Prestwick	1,817,727	24.8%	1,358,000	459,286	441	34,230	13,385
19	Southampton	1,789,901	8.0%	682,427	1,107,016	458	45,502	209
20	Cardiff	1,631,236	18.2%	1,249,530	375,200	6,506	27,003	178

Source: UK CAA Official Statistics^[4]

2008 Data

Rank	Airport	Total Passengers	% Change 2007/2008	International Passengers	Domestic Passengers	Transit Passengers	Aircraft Movements	Freight (Metric Tonnes)
1	London Heathrow	67,054,745	1.5%	61,344,438	5,562,516	147,791	478,693	1,397,054
2	London Gatwick	34,205,887	2.9%	30,431,051	3,730,963	43,873	263,653	107,702
3	London Stansted	22,360,364	6.0%	19,996,947	2,343,428	19,989	193,282	197,738
4	Manchester	21,219,195	4.0%	18,119,230	2,943,719	156,246	204,610	141,781
5	London Luton	10,180,734	2.6%	8,853,224	1,320,678	6,832	117,859	40,518
6	Birmingham Airport	9,627,589	4.3%	8,105,162	1,471,538	50,889	112,227	12,192
7	Edinburgh	9,006,702	0.5%	3,711,140	5,281,038	14,524	125,550	12,418
8	Glasgow International	8,178,891	7.0%	3,943,139	4,192,121	43,631	100,087	3,546
9	Bristol	6,267,114	5.7%	5,057,051	1,171,605	38,458	76,517	3
10	East Midlands	5,620,673	3.8%	4,870,184	746,094	4,395	93,038	261,507
11	Liverpool	5,334,152	2.5%	4,514,926	814,900	4,326	84,890	3,740
12	Belfast International	5,262,354	0.2%	2,122,844	3,099,995	39,515	77,943	36,115
13	Newcastle	5,039,993	10.8%	3,506,681	1,509,959	23,353	72,904	1,938
14	Aberdeen	3,290,920	3.6%	1,470,099	1,820,137	684	119,831	4,006
15	London City	3,260,236	12.0%	2,600,731	659,494	11	94,516	0
16	Leeds Bradford	2,873,321	0.3%	2,282,358	578,089	12,874	61,699	334
17	Belfast City	2,570,742	17.5%	70,516	2,500,225	1	42,990	168
18	Glasgow Prestwick	2,415,755	0.3%	1,728,020	685,999	1,736	42,708	22,966
19	Cardiff	1,994,892	5.5%	1,565,991	412,728	16,173	37,123	1,334
20	Southampton	1,945,993	1.0%	768,487	1,177,280	226	50,689	264

Source: UK CAA Official Statistics^[4]

2007 Data

Rank	Airport	Total Passengers	% Change 2006/2007	International Passengers	Domestic Passengers	Transit Passengers	Aircraft Movements	Freight (Metric Tonnes)
1	London Heathrow	68,066,028	0.8%	62,098,911	5,753,476	213,641	481,476	1,310,987
2	London Gatwick	35,216,113	3.1%	31,142,002	4,023,402	50,709	266,550	171,078
3	London Stansted	23,779,697	0.4%	21,204,946	2,554,304	20,447	208,462	203,747
4	Manchester	22,112,625	1.5%	18,662,468	3,229,255	220,902	222,703	165,366
5	London Luton	9,927,321	5.3%	8,427,894	1,491,467	7,960	120,238	38,095
6	Birmingham Airport	9,226,340	0.9%	7,592,240	1,541,815	92,285	114,679	13,585
7	Edinburgh	9,047,558	5.1%	3,417,891	5,619,309	10,358	128,172	19,292
8	Glasgow International	8,795,727	0.6%	4,131,512	4,594,575	69,640	108,305	4,276
9	Bristol	5,926,774	2.9%	4,608,290	1,275,566	42,918	76,428	20
10	Newcastle	5,650,716	4.0%	3,948,594	1,675,013	27,109	79,200	785
11	Liverpool	5,468,510	10.2%	4,636,149	827,085	5,276	86,668	3,709
12	East Midlands	5,413,360	14.5%	4,709,855	696,649	6,856	93,989	274,753
13	Belfast International	5,272,664	4.6%	1,788,807	3,447,248	36,609	77,395	38,429
14	Aberdeen	3,412,257	7.8%	1,475,988	1,935,152	1,117	121,927	3,434
15	London City	2,912,123	23.5%	2,214,884	697,239	0	91,177	0
16	Leeds Bradford	2,881,539	3.2%	2,229,283	630,575	21,681	65,249	109
17	Glasgow Prestwick	2,422,332	1.0%	1,827,592	593,117	1,623	47,910	31,517
18	Belfast City	2,186,993	3.9%	93,547	2,093,320	126	43,022	1,057
19	Cardiff	2,111,148	4.3%	1,665,247	428,260	17,641	43,963	2,391
20	Southampton	1,965,686	2.8%	767,416	1,198,006	264	54,183	297

Source: UK CAA Official Statistics^[4]

2006 Data

Rank	Airport	Total Passengers	% Change 2005/2006	International Passengers	Domestic Passengers	Transit Passengers	Aircraft Movements	Freight (Metric Tonnes)
1	London Heathrow	67,527,923	0.6%	61,345,841	5,993,386	188,696	477,048	1,263,128
2	London Gatwick	34,163,579	4.2%	30,018,783	4,061,562	83,234	263,363	211,857
3	London Stansted	23,687,013	7.7%	21,002,260	2,678,092	6,661	206,693	224,312
4	Manchester	22,442,855	0.2%	18,601,604	3,522,158	319,093	229,729	148,957
5	London Luton	9,425,908	3.0%	7,875,084	1,539,745	11,079	116,131	17,993
6	Birmingham Airport	9,147,384	2.5%	7,532,792	1,523,212	91,380	119,490	14,681
7	Glasgow International	8,848,755	0.6%	4,245,338	4,575,124	28,293	110,034	6,289
8	Edinburgh	8,611,345	1.8%	2,743,220	5,863,431	4,694	126,914	36,389
9	Bristol	5,757,963	9.6%	4,297,696	1,412,526	47,741	84,583	32
10	Newcastle	5,431,976	4.4%	3,624,228	1,783,134	24,614	81,655	306
11	Belfast International	5,038,692	4.4%	1,533,065	3,482,199	23,428	77,652	38,417
12	Liverpool	4,963,776	12.5%	4,078,245	884,215	1,316	91,263	5,724
13	East Midlands	4,727,996	13.0%	4,048,071	672,748	7,177	88,592	272,303
14	Aberdeen	3,164,042	10.9%	1,325,989	1,836,635	1,418	116,971	4,022
15	Leeds Bradford	2,792,686	7.0%	2,154,982	632,235	5,469	66,921	101
16	Glasgow Prestwick	2,397,412	0.4%	1,824,523	570,405	2,484	48,189	28,537
17	London City	2,358,184	18.1%	1,738,346	619,813	25	79,436	0
18	Belfast City	2,105,769	5.9%	51,948	2,053,649	172	39,411	827
19	Cardiff	2,024,428	13.8%	1,628,245	364,852	31,331	42,055	2,212
20	Southampton	1,912,979	4.2%	619,219	1,293,483	277	55,786	195

Source: UK CAA Official Statistics^[4]

Future airport expansion

London Heathrow - Terminal 5 opened on 27 March 2008, increasing the total passenger numbers potentially to over 90 million, possibly making Heathrow the world's busiest airport. However, serious delays and glitches remain. Plans for a third runway could increase aircraft movement dramatically and see over 115 million passengers using Heathrow annually. See also Future expansion and Expansion of London Heathrow Airport
London Stansted - Plans to increase Stansted's usage are also underway. See Proposed expansion
London Southend - Since it's purchase by the Stobart Group in 2008, London Southend Airport has embarked on a massive programme of development including a 300m runway extension, new terminal, railway station and hotel. EasyJet is commencing services from the airport in April 2012 with the anticipation that 700,000 passengers will be carried by easyJet alone in 2012.
Manchester - Expansion of services and facilities at Manchester Airport estimates a usage by 50 million passengers in 2030, which is more than twice as many as the airport handles now.
London Luton - Luton's usage has increased by around 900% between 1991 and 2006, however plans for another runway and new terminal were scrapped due to financial reasons. See Development plans and the future
Birmingham - Birmingham Airport also has plans to expand, with a new terminal due for completion in 2012. See Birmingham Airport Future
Leeds Bradford International Airport- In November 2008, Bridgepoint Capital announced a £28 million expansion of the current terminal building at Leeds Bradford International Airport, enabling the airport to handle in excess of 6 million passengers a year. The airport also intends to increase parking, the number of aircraft stands and build a railway link, towards Horsforth enabling a link with Leeds railway station.
Bournemouth Airport - A £45 million redevelopment by Manchester Airports group was announced in 2006 and began in 2008. The terminal building is to double in size, replace the arrivals terminal, increase the number of stands/gates from 4 to 13 and to add more car parking spaces. Improvements to the local infrastructure, as well as the possibility of the construction of a new hotel are also included in the redevelopment phases.^[5]
Other - Numerous UK airports are expanding to accommodate the new Airbus A380, and even the smaller airports such as Blackpool International are becoming larger and more popular due to demand.

References

^ Terminal and Transit Pax 2009
^ BAA Gatwick: About Gatwick Airport
^ [1], Provisional UK CAA Airport statistics 2010
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f [2], Official UK CAA Airport statistics 1990 - 2009
^ "£45 million redevelopment programme". Bournemouth Airport. 2007. http://www.bournemouthairport.com/bohweb.nsf/Content/RedevelopmentProgramme. Retrieved 2009-04-15.

Airports in the United Kingdom and the Crown Dependencies

England	Birmingham · Blackpool · Bournemouth · Bristol · Doncaster-Sheffield · Durham Tees Valley · East Midlands · Exeter · Humberside · Leeds-Bradford · Liverpool · London City · London-Gatwick · London Heathrow · London Luton · London Southend · London Stansted · Manchester · Newcastle · Newquay · Norwich · Southampton Biggin Hill • Cambridge • Coventry • Gloucestershire • Kent • Land's End • Oxford • Lydd • Penzance • St Mary's • Tresco

Scotland	Aberdeen · Edinburgh · Glasgow International · Glasgow Prestwick · Inverness Barra • Benbecula • Campbeltown • Dundee • Eday • Fair Isle • Islay • Kirkwall • Lerwick • North Ronaldsay • Oban • Papa Westray • Sanday • Scatsta • Stornoway • Stronsay • Sumburgh • Tiree • Westray • Wick

Wales	Cardiff Anglesey

Northern Ireland	Belfast City · Belfast International · City of Derry

Crown Dependencies	Alderney · Guernsey · Isle of Man · Jersey

Smaller font-size indicates airports handling domestic, charter or private services only.

Aviation statistics

Airports worldwide

World's busiest airport · World's busiest airports by aircraft movements / by passenger traffic (international) / by cargo traffic

Airports by country

China (PRC)	List of the busiest airports in the People's Republic of China

Turkey	Busiest airports by total passenger traffic

Ireland / UK	Busiest airports / in the Republic of Ireland by total passenger traffic / in the United Kingdom by total passenger traffic

South Korea	Busiest airports in South Korea by passenger traffic