Mid‑East Tensions Shift Air Traffic to Incheon, Overtaking Heathrow and Changi

The ongoing war between Iran and the United States has reshaped global flight routes, diverting traffic from traditional Middle‑East transit points to East Asian airports. Incheon International Airport captured 38.39 million international passengers in H1 2026, surpassing Heathrow’s 37.79 million and Changi’s 34.53 million.

Industry analysts attribute the jump to reduced capacity at Dubai and other Gulf hubs, prompting carriers to seek alternative connections through Incheon. The airport’s network now includes 101 airlines serving 183 cities, and its recent expansion raised annual capacity to 106 million passengers.