Passenger traffic soars over Christmas at major UK airports

The seven UK airports run by BAA handled more than 10 million passengers in December 2003, a 6.2% rise from the same month in the previous year.

That took the number of passengers using its airports last year to 131.1 million - 3.6% more than in 2002.

Six of the seven airports reported their highest-ever traffic levels.

Turbulence over?

Stansted showed the biggest rise in passenger numbers during December, up 16.6% to 18.7m, followed by Southampton where the launch of new services boosted business.

Heathrow, BAA's biggest airport, recorded a modest 0.3% rise in passengers to 63.2m, while Gatwick was up 1.3% to 29.9m.

BAA AIRPORTS Aberdeen Edinburgh Gatwick Glasgow Heathrow Southampton Stansted

The airline industry has taken a battering over the last two years as the Iraq war, the threat of terrorist attack and an outbreak of the Sars virus have dented travellers' confidence.

But the aviation sector is finally breaking through the clouds and is starting to show solid signs of recovery.

BAA said most major markets enjoyed increases in passenger numbers, with European scheduled traffic climbing 9.9%, North Atlantic gaining 2.1% and long-haul destinations showing an 8.7% increase.