BAA passenger traffic rises in August

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Strong demand for charter flights and a buoyant domestic market helped BAA's UK passenger numbers rise 2.3% in August, while North Atlantic traffic remained weak. BAA said in its monthly traffic report that its UK airports handled 13.2m passengers in August

European charter passengers were up 10.6% in August on a year ago due to a late surge in summer holiday travel after poor weather at the start of the peak season and the earlier effect of the World Cup, BAA said in a statement. Strong domestic traffic growth continued with a 9.2% increase, boosted by newer lower fare structures from the traditional airlines and and low cost carriers. This also helped Irish traffic to a 5.2% rise, while European scheduled traffic recorded a 1.6% increase.

"North Atlantic traffic remained the weakest sector with a drop of 8% in August, while other long haul traffic continued its gradual recovery with a decrease of just 2.3%," said BAA. In the year to date BAA total passenger numbers remain down by just 0.3% on 2001.