BAA claims passenger numbers stable

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%.