Weakening economy hits airport passenger numbers

A slowing economy and the increasing effect of the credit crunch on consumers across the UK have been blamed for a drop in the number of passengers using the country's biggest airports.

According to BAA - which runs seven UK airports, including Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport and Glasgow - passenger numbers fell by 1.7 per cent in July year-on-year.

London's Stansted Airport saw the biggest drop in passengers of BAA's airports, with 5.3 per cent fewer people passing through its doors, compared with the same period last year.

Each of BAA's Scottish airports also saw slight reductions.

However, the "stimulus" of the Open Skies initiative helped North Atlantic traffic increase by 0.6 per cent, as the number of flights in between the UK, Europe and USA increased.

Meanwhile, BAA has secured the completion of a £13 billion refinancing deal which will include finding for "immediate" improvements at airports across its portfolio.

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