BAA handled almost 11% fewer passengers than previous year

Last month’s heavy snowfall meant that airport operator BAA handled almost 11 per cent fewer passengers at its six UK airports than in December 2009.

The company said the cost of the weather disruption was approximately £24 million.

A total of 7.2 million passengers passed through the six airports in December 2010 – a 10.9 per cent drop on the December 2009 figure.

BAA handled 4.8 million passengers at Heathrow last month – a 9.5 per cent reduction on December 2009.

The biggest dip last month was at Southampton airport where there were 22 per cent fewer passengers.

Edinburgh was down 18.4 per cent, Glasgow fell 15.3 per cent, Stansted was down 10.9 per cent and Aberdeen fell 8.3 per cent.

BAA was heavily criticised for its handling of the snow crisis at Heathrow where thousands of Christmas getaway passengers had to camp overnight in the terminals as flights – at one stage – almost ground to a halt.

The company has set up an inquiry into its December 2010 Heathrow operation, with a report due in March.

Sir Richard Branson’s airline, Virgin Atlantic, has said it is withholding some Heathrow charges until it sees the results of the inquiry.

BAA reckoned that the £24 million weather-related loss last month included a £19 million loss at Heathrow, a £1 million loss at Stansted and a £4 million loss at its four other UK airports.

BAA chief executive officer Colin Matthews announced last month that he would not be taking his 2010 annual bonus.

Overall, BAA handled 103.9 million passengers in 2010 – a drop of 2.8 per cent on 2009.