BAA reports higher passenger numbers
30.11.05
BAA today said passenger numbers at all of its seven UK airports grew last month. The growth came despite a sharp fall in demand for charter flights. The group handled 10.4 million passengers in November - an increase of 2.2% on year earlier - but there was a 19.8% drop in European chartered traffic.
The continued popularity of low-cost airlines led to the number of European charter flights being cut - as passengers switch from charter flights to low cost flights for their holidays. Passenger numbers on long haul flights grew 8.4% - partly because of 22 new services operated by Virgin, BA and bmi between Heathrow with India.
European schedule traffic was up 2.3% and Irish routes grew 8.8%. However, a weaker economy and some passengers choosing to take improved train services between London and Manchester and Liverpool impacted on the UK domestic market, which grew just 0.6%.
Since the start of the financial year in April, BAA airports have handled 102.5 million passengers - up 2.4% on the April to November figure for 2004. BAA said this figure would have been higher but for people being deterred from flying by the Gate Gourmet dispute and the London bombings.
A BAA spokesman said the group thought the impact had now passed - though the softening economy was causing some passengers to think twice about taking flights.
Southampton airport showed BAA's biggest improvement, handling 133,000 passengers - 14.5% more than a year earlier as it continued to attract more airlines. Aberdeen airport continued its recent strong run with a 9.1% increase in passengers in November and Edinburgh saw 3% growth.
Gatwick and Stansted recorded growth of 1.9% and 2.1% respectively. Heathrow traffic rose 1.7% to 5.2 million passengers after a fall in October. The company says higher seat capacity and strong growth in some markets has been responsible for the rise.
'Heathrow is virtually at capacity so to get a significant number of extra passengers through there is difficult,' the spokesman said. Cargo tonnage across the seven airports was down 2.5%.
Meanwhile, bosses at Southampton Airport say it has seen an increase in international passengers, with about 350,000 overseas residents using the airport annually. A spokeswoman said: 'The airport is attracting more and more international visitors to the region. Passengers are now able to make a flying visit to conduct business in the region, reach Southampton's cruise port or visit friends and relatives in this area.'
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