Britain’s smaller airports are grappling with a sluggish recovery despite national passenger numbers reaching record highs, exposing what industry leaders describe as a two-tier rebound in U.K. aviation.
Sharp Declines at Regional Hubs
New Civil Aviation Authority data show that while major hubs are thriving, several regional airports remain well below pre-pandemic levels, with some recording passenger declines of nearly 50% compared to 2019.
Southampton Airport (SOU) handled 880,000 passengers last year, down 48% from 1.7 million in 2019. Exeter Airport (EXT) saw a 43% fall, from 1 million to 570,000. Both airports were heavily reliant on Flybe, which collapsed in 2020, weakening regional connectivity.
Cardiff Airport (CWL) recorded a 40% drop, from 1.6 million passengers to 950,000, amid competition from nearby Bristol Airport (BRS) and the withdrawal of Qatar Airways and Wizz Air.
London City Airport (LCY), dependent on business travel, reported a 27% decline from 5.1 million to 3.7 million passengers. Southend Airport (SEN) suffered one of the steepest falls, down 64% from 2 million to 720,000 after easyJet and Ryanair withdrew services.
Aberdeen Airport (ABZ) is down 20% to 2.3 million passengers, while East Midlands Airport (EMA) saw a 15% fall to 3.9 million, despite growth in freight operations.
Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA), which handled 1.4 million passengers before the pandemic, closed in 2022 following airline withdrawals.
Major Airports Surge Ahead
In contrast, U.K. airports collectively handled 299 million passengers in 2025, up 2.3% year on year and slightly above the 2019 peak.
Heathrow Airport (LHR) welcomed a record 84.5 million passengers, up 3.6 million since 2019, accounting for 28% of all U.K. travellers. Manchester Airport (MAN) and Stansted Airport (STN) together added 4.3 million passengers, reaching 32 million and 29.7 million, respectively.
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) rose 15% to 16.9 million passengers, while Birmingham Airport (BHX) increased 8% to 13.6 million.
Concerns Over Connectivity
Karen Dee, chief executive of AirportsUK, told The Times that recovery remains uneven after airlines consolidated operations during the pandemic.
Industry figures warn that continued retrenchment to major hubs risks weakening regional links and local economies, even as overall demand for air travel grows.
Have you noticed fewer flight options at your local airport? Share your experience and tell us whether regional connectivity in the U.K. is improving or declining.
