AIRPORT operator BAA claims passenger numbers have stabilised
following the September 11 terrorist attacks.
The company’s seven UK airports, which include Heathrow and
Gatwick, handled 9.8 million passengers in the first 20 days of October. This
represents a 12% decline compared to the same period last year. The trend has
remained stable with a 12% fall in passenger numbers since the second half of
September.
North Atlantic routes were the worst affected throughout
October and were 31.3% down compared to October 2000. Other long-haul routes
fell 16.4% although Irish traffic grew by 5.5%.