UK passenger traffic returns to growth

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BAA's seven UK airports handled a total of 12.1m passengers in September 2002, an increase of 8.1% over the same month last year when traffic was severely disrupted following the tragic events of September 11

Among the individual markets, European charter traffic added 3.3% and Irish routes grew 1.5%. Buoyed by low fares, domestic and European scheduled traffic also increased by 13.3% and 7.8% respectively. North Atlantic routes were heavily distorted by last September's events and the closure of US airspace.

Traffic gains were recorded at all of BAA's London airports for the month compared with September 2001, although again these were distorted by last year. Stansted added 13.7%, Heathrow 12.0% and Gatwick 0.4%.

Amongst BAA's Scottish airports, Edinburgh recorded an 8.7% increase, Glasgow an increase of 5.2% and Aberdeen rose by 4.3%. Total air transport movements grew by 0.4%.