Passenger numbers have taken off again

BAA said the increase was caused by big events such as the G8 summit at Gleneagles and the Open golf matches at Loch Lomond and St Andrews.

Figures show that 2,177,200 travellers used Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports last month - a rise of 5.8% on the same time last year.

BAA Scotland managing director Donal Dowds said: "It is the same picture at all three airports."

The nation's airports dealt with about 19.7 million passengers in the 12 months to July, a rise of 5.8%.

Glasgow was the busiest, handling 1,055,900 people in July - the highest monthly figure ever for a Scottish airport.

The demand for direct international travel from Scotland has never been greater Donal Dowds BAA Scotland

Fair Friday, when 41,616 people flew in and out, was the busiest day in the airport's 39-year history.

The other two airports also had their busiest month. Edinburgh had 845,200 passengers - up 6.2%.

International travel also grew - by 8.2%, in part because of the G8 and the Live8 concert at Murrayfield.

Aberdeen - Scotland's fastest growing airport - welcomed 276,000 travellers, a rise of 8.1%.

Glasgow Airport remains Scotland's busiest

It had its busiest day in more than a decade on 8 July, when 11,574 travellers used the airport.

Mr Dowds said: "It is clear from last month's record performance that the demand for direct international travel from Scotland has never been greater.

"Scotland is better connected to the rest of the world than it has ever been and, as a consequence, more people than ever before are choosing to fly from their local airports."