More passengers for BAA's airports

Passenger numbers reached 11.7 million during May, a 7.8% increase on the same month last year.

Numbers on North Atlantic routes grew 18.1%, while long-haul routes overall saw a 24.8% jump on last year, when figures were affected by the Sars virus.

BAA's airports include Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Southampton.

Meanwhile, Luton airport-operator TBI has reported a sharp drop in profits after writing down the value of its airport service business in North America by �5.9m.

TBI posted pre-tax profits of �6.2m ($11.3m) for the year to 31 March, down from �11.2m last year.

But the company said it remained well placed to take advantage of the ongoing growth in budget air travel, with low-cost traffic having risen by 31% at its airports.

The growth was helped by Easyjet's use of Luton and Belfast International and Bmibaby flying from Cardiff.

TBI owns or has majority stakes in eight airports - including Luton, Belfast International, Cardiff, Orlando Sanford International in Florida and Stockholm Skavsta - and also provides airport services.