Last year, 836,856 passengers used Bournemouth Airport

The Dorset airport saw a 68% increase in passengers last year compared with 2004, the CAA revealed.

The airport said the growth could be attributed to budget airlines offering "low cost flights to popular European holiday spots" as well as city breaks.

The figures showed 229 million people passed through UK airports in 2005.

A spokeswoman said the figures make Bournemouth "one of the fastest growing airports in the UK".

She added: "It's also worth pointing out that 13% of these passengers were inbound tourists travelling into the region from abroad which is, of course, a huge benefit to the local economy."

In 2005, 836,856 passengers used Bournemouth Airport.