Long-haul markets fuel BAA airport growth

The British Airports Authority (BAA) recorded a small rise in the number of passengers travelling through its airports during November.

Among the key markets contributing to the 1.5 per cent year-on-year rise was the long-haul sector, with many of the 10.8 million passengers passing through BAA airports seeking a reprieve from plummeting winter temperatures.

The weaker dollar was also partly responsible for the spike in North Atlantic traffic, up 5.9 per cent, while UK domestic traffic fell by 4.3 per cent and demand for European flights was up a modest 0.9 per cent.

Individual domestic airports recorded mixed results, with Heathrow Airport notching up a 2.4 per cent increase compared to Gatwick Airport's 6.2 per cent rise and a 4.4 per cent spike at Edinburgh Airport.

Gatwick and Edinburgh both surpassed passenger traffic records - reaching 12-month totals of 35 million and nine million passengers respectively - but winter schedule cutbacks by some low-cost airlines led to a 6.3 per cent decrease in traffic at Stansted Airport.

All told, air transport movements at BAA airports fell 1.2 per cent last month - including a dip of 4.1 per cent for Scottish airports and 0.1 per cent for those in the London area.