UK's Heathrow airport says outlook uncertain as Mideast conflict shifts passenger flows

* Heathrow's growth lags ​EU rivals due to full runway slots and capacity constraints

* Middle East routes drop 51%, Asia-Pacific and ​Africa traffic ‌surges as travelers reroute

* Heathrow handled 6.6 million passengers in March, up nearly 7% year-on-year

* Heathrow says ⁠global supply chain impacts, including fuel, have not disrupted ⁠operations

April 13 (Reuters) - Heathrow Airport forecast ​an uncertain few months ahead as capacity constraints crimp its ability to benefit from a shift in global aviation patterns resulting from the Iran war, with the west London hub ​saying ‌its growth lagged European competitors as runway slots remain full.

The UK's biggest airport handled 6.6 million passengers in March, up nearly 7% from a year earlier, as it redirected traffic flows to cope with airspace closures across the Middle East.

"We're doing everything ​we can to support airlines and passengers as travel trends shift during the Middle ‌East crisis," said Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye. "While Heathrow's long-haul network absorbed demand in March, the outlook for the next few months ‌remains uncertain." The UK government approved plans for a third runway at the airport last year, but with the broader planning process expected to drag on for years, it ​is not expected to be operational until at least 2035. Heathrow warned in February that Istanbul will overtake ‌it as Europe's busiest hub this year or the next as it works with two runways compared with Istanbul's five.

ASIA & AFRICA ROUTES GAIN POPULARITY

Heathrow said Middle East routes ⁠plunged 51.1% ⁠while Asia-Pacific and Africa traffic rose 31.1% and 23.3% respectively, with ‌the number of transfer passengers jumping 10% as travellers rerouted their journeys. British Airways, the UK's flag carrier ​and highest-grossing airline, said ​last week it would cut flights to the Middle East ‌when services resume, while adding capacity to India and Africa.

Heathrow said the conflict's knock-on impacts to global supply chains, including fuel, have not affected its operations.

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