BAA reports 8 per cent rise in passenger numbers

BAA reports 8 per cent rise in passenger numbers

BAA said its seven UK airports handled 9.4 million passengers in October, representing an increase of 7.8 per cent on the same month last year. The company also released updated 10-year passenger traffic and capital expenditure forecasts for airports in the south-east of England. BAA forecasts that, above the level of its previous forecasts, an extra 7.6 million more passengers per annum will be using its London airports. It said this reflected growing underlying demand and confirmed the need for the proposed Terminal 5 to relieve increasing congestion at Heathrow and to maintain appropriate levels of customer service. No changes in the numbers of air transport movements have been assumed. Gatwick's forecasts have increased from 28.5 to 33 million passengers per annum in 2001/02 and from 31.8 to 38.5 million in 2006/07.