The record-breaking year also saw the launch of expansion plans

The 2005 passenger figures show 9.4m people passed through the airport, a rise of almost 6% compared with the year before.

Scheduled flights saw the biggest increase in passenger levels, up 14%, and airport bosses said its growth had been helped by more low cost airlines.

In the same year the airport also announced plans for further expansion.

The airport, which has been operating for 67 years, is carrying out a major consultation exercise on the controversial proposals.

If successful the airport would get a second runway and passenger numbers would be predicted to grow to more than 30m a year.