UK aviation continues its post-pandemic resurgence, with the Civil Aviation Authority reporting record traffic between April and June 2025. A total of 81 million passengers travelled through UK airports in Q2, the highest quarterly figure ever, contributing to 141 million passengers in the first half of the year. Numbers are now 3% above 2024 levels, with a record-breaking summer underway.
Punctuality also improved, with 75% of flights on time, up 8 percentage points year-on-year, and April seeing a peak of 82%. Cargo operations were equally strong, up 6% year-on-year, with nearly 700,000 tonnes handled. Growth was particularly notable on Asian routes, including Delhi (+61%) and Mumbai (+41%).
Government and industry leaders hailed the results as proof of aviation’s role in driving economic growth, jobs, and global connectivity. Airports in northern England saw significant gains, with nearly 750,000 extra passengers across Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, and Leeds Bradford.
Top passenger destinations included Dublin, Amsterdam, Palma de Mallorca, and Alicante, while Dubai, New York, Doha, and Leipzig led international cargo routes.
