More than eight million passengers used Birmingham International Airport last year - a rise of 2.8% on 2001.

The increase follows the introduction of lower fares on some services and the launch in October of a new budget airline, MyTravelLite.

The figures reveal an increase in air travel since a slump in passenger numbers following 11 September.

The most popular scheduled destinations in 2002 were Dublin, Paris and Amsterdam.

It's been an unforgettable year, with many important developments Brian Summers

In August, the airport experienced its busiest ever month and day.

And the year ended with the highest ever December passenger total, with 497,474 travellers passing through the airport.

That figure is an increase of more than 20% on December 2001.

Scheduled traffic accounted for 63.1% of the total 2002 figure, with charter passengers making up the remainder.

Asian routes

Asian scheduled routes increased by 25%

Brian Summers, Managing Director of Birmingham International Airport, said: "It's been an unforgettable year, with many important developments.

"New destinations, increased frequencies and additional facilities have been introduced; lower fares by British Airways and Flybe are now available; and new airlines like MyTravelLite have emerged.

Birmingham International, which is undergoing a �260m redevelopment, is the UK's 5th largest airport.