UK aviation had its strongest second quarter — with India up 5% and Dubai down by half

The quarter in numbers

UK Civil Aviation Authority data reported on 2 September records 81,158,297 passengers at UK airports between April and June 2026, against 81,035,648 in the same quarter of 2025 — an increase of 122,649. Ryanair and Jet2 each grew 9%, and together with easyJet the three carried 2.25 million more passengers than a year earlier. More than a million additional passengers travelled to Western Europe, with Madrid up 15% and Barcelona up 11%. Fewer than 1% of flights were cancelled at short notice across May to July.

On long-haul, China routes grew 11% and India routes 5%. Pakistan routes rose 307%. Dubai routes fell 50%. Among regional airports, Cardiff was up 16% proportionally, with Newcastle and Inverness both up 8%.

Why this matters from India

Two of these figures speak directly to anyone planning Britain. India–UK traffic up 5% is the same signal as the September schedule data showing 16% more seats from India to the UK: this is the one long-haul corridor visibly expanding, and more capacity usually means more choice on dates rather than dramatically cheaper headline fares.

The Dubai figure is the one to plan around. A 50% fall on UK–Dubai routes in a single quarter is not a demand story — it lines up with the long list of airlines that have suspended Gulf services into the winter. If your route to Britain has always gone through Dubai, treat that leg as the fragile part of the itinerary and check what the operating carrier is actually flying.

CAA spokesperson Ross Lydall said demand for flying "remains high, as passengers adjust their travel plans around global events".

Sources

This report is based on the following published sources. Rules and schedules change — confirm with the issuing authority before you travel.

• UK aviation records strongest second quarter despite Middle East disruption — International Airport Review, 02 September 2026