BAA tracks August passenger growth in UK airports

The number of passengers passing through BAA airports in August soared to 15.2 million in August, according to company data just released.

The 5.9 per cent rise in passenger figures compared to July drew on a marked increase in European scheduled traffic, with 8.2 per cent passenger growth and a 10.2 per cent rise in the number of passengers travelling to the north Atlantic including America.

Charter flights to Europe, by contrast, fell 5.7 per cent in terms of passenger figures while the number of people crossing to the Irish Republic by air grew only by a modest 1.3 per cent.

Of the major UK airports, Stansted saw the most impressive growth, with seven per cent more passengers than in July, while Heathrow Airport followed close behind with 6.5 per cent growth.

North of the border, there was a significant gap between 0.5 per cent growth in passenger numbers for Glasgow and ten per cent rise for Edinburgh Airport.

Figures released recently showed that July 2007 was a record month for Edinburgh Airport, while the August increase drew on the increasing popularity of the international arts festivals held in the city.