BAA's June passenger traffic rises 4.3 per cent

The UK's biggest airport operator, BAA Plc, said yesterday last month's passenger traffic rose 4.3 per cent year-on-year, as all its airports recorded higher traffic.

BAA, whose seven airports include London's Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, said it carried 13.4 million passengers in the month, adding that the European charter market remained subdued.

In the 12 months to the end of last month, BAA's UK airports handled 143.0 million passengers, an increase of 4.7 per cent on the previous 12 months. Low-cost airlines have driven passenger growth in recent years and BAA said European traffic rose 5.7 per cent in June.

The company, due to hold its annual shareholder meeting this week, has previously flagged a slowdown in the recent high rate of passenger growth this financial year.

British Airways, Europe's second-largest airline, said last week its June passenger traffic rose 4.7 per cent year on year.

BAA said while air transport movements rose 4.6 per cent in June, cargo tonnage grew 0.4 per cent, "reflecting a worldwide slowing in air cargo growth".