Airports are getting busier

The airports handled 13.7 million passengers during August, a 3.6% rise on the same period last year.

BAA said major markets continued to show the gradual recovery in air travel since the end of the war in Iraq and the outbreak of the deadly Sars virus.

The rising passenger numbers reflected stronger traffic on European routes and long-haul destinations other than the US.

European growth

BAA said passenger numbers at Heathrow had recovered steadily since the strike by British Airways check-in staff in late July.

BAA AIRPORTS Heathrow Gatwick Stansted Southampton Glasgow Edinburgh Aberdeen

Heathrow saw a 1.4% increase in traffic on the same period a year ago.

The fastest growing market in August for BAA's airports continued to be Europe, which has enjoyed rapid growth in recent years thanks to the growth of low-cost airlines.

Traffic to Europe on scheduled flights was up by 9.5% on last year.

But there were signs that recent price-cutting by traditional airlines is also having an effect on European routes, with BAA noting a 3% rise in scheduled traffic for 'full-service' carriers.

Long-haul flights to destinations other than the US saw a 3.6% in numbers, but trans-Atlantic traffic was down by 1.1%.