Strong growth in the no-frills airline sector has boosted overall UK air traveller numbers.

The UK airport operator BAA said on Thursday that a total of 10.7 million passengers flew from its airports last month, 0.8% more than in May 2001.

A sharp increase in European and domestic flights accounted for the bulk of the increase, with bookings on lucrative transatlantic routes falling by 4.6% compared with one year ago.

Shorthaul bookings have grown steadily in the past few months thanks to aggressive price competition from no-frills carriers such as Easyjet and Ryanair.

But longhaul traveller numbers have yet to recover from the impact of the 11 September attacks.

Last year's economic downturn, which has led many companies to cut their corporate travel budgets, is also weighing on transatlantic bookings.

BAA operates seven UK airports, including Heathrow, the world's busiest international airport.

It also runs London's other two main airports, Gatwick and Stansted.