Heathrow Boosts Top Hub Status as Rivals Feel Istanbul Heat
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London’s Heathrow airport extended its lead as Europe’s busiest hub last year after welcoming larger aircraft, as Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam saw their positions challenged by rapid growth at Istanbul Ataturk.
Heathrow drew 72.3 million passengers in 2013, a 3.4 percent jump that outstripped both the 0.7 percent gain at Paris Charles de Gaulle to 62 million and third-ranked Frankfurt’s 0.9 percent advance to 58 million. Istanbul reaped a 14 percent surge to 51.3 million, taking it past Madrid and almost level with Amsterdam Schiphol, with a growth rate that puts it within reach of supplanting the German hub by this time next year.