Passenger numbers at UK airports increase
UK airports handled 217 million passengers last year – an increase of 8% on 2003 total, official figures out today showed.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) statistics revealed that in the period from 1987 to 2004, passenger numbers doubled at London’s airports and tripled at regional airports.
But despite the rise last year, the number of passengers travelling between the UK and North America still did not reach pre-September 11 levels.
The CAA reported that passenger traffic at the five main London airports - Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City – grew by 7% last year to a total of 129 million passengers.
Heathrow numbers rose 3.6% to 67.34 million, Gatwick was up 5% to 31.46 million, Stansted was up 12% to 20.91 million, Luton rose 11% to 7.53 million and London City increased 14% to 1.67 million.
Traffic at the UK’s regional airports increased 9% last year to 88 million. Of the 10 largest regional airports, the fastest growing was Newcastle – up 21% to 4.72 million.
Bristol enjoyed a 19% increase to 4.64 million and Leeds Bradford handled 2.36 million passengers – 17% more than in 2003.
Among other airports enjoying big increases last year were Exeter – up 57% to 621,624 passengers; Plymouth, which was up 44% to 128,621; Blackpool which increased 43% to 266,179 and Southampton where passenger numbers increased 26% to 1.53 million.
The majority of passengers using UK airports last year flew to or from Europe. The number of passengers on flights to or from Europe totalled 122 million – 7% up on the 2003 total.
The largest growth was on routes to the Czech Republic – up 59%, or 770,000.
With more Eastern European countries now members of the EU, passenger numbers on Eastern European routes rose 97% with an an extra million travellers last year.
After Europe the next most popular destinations were either other UK airports or North America. There was 25 million passengers on UK domestic flights last year – up 6% on 2003 and 21 million on North American flights – up 9%.
Despite the American increase passenger numbers between the UK and North America did not return last year to the year 2000 level of 23 million.
Passenger numbers were up 21% last year on routes both to Africa and the Middle East.
The proportion of passengers at UK airports flying on UK scheduled airlines reached 50.1% last year – the highest level for the last 20 years.
This contrasted with the proportion flying on UK charter carriers which, at 15.1% last year, reached its lowest level in the last 20 years.
