BAA airports Apr-2012 pax stable, cargo down 1%

UK's BAA reported the following traffic highlights for its member airports in Apr-2012:

• Passenger numbers: 9.1 million, +0.1% year-on-year;
  • UK and Channel Islands: 1.4 million, +2.7%;
  • Ireland: 360,500, -0.3%;
  • European scheduled: 4.0 million, +1.3%;
  • European charter: 133,400, -6.5%;
  • North Atlantic: 1.4 million, -0.9%;
  • Other long-haul: 1.8 million, -3.4%;
• Cargo volume: 138,686 tonnes, -1.1%;
• Aircraft movements: 76,573, +0.6%. [more - original PR]

BAA: "These are encouraging figures for Heathrow and BAA's other airports. However, the modest growth in passenger numbers at Heathrow, the UK's only hub airport, comes from larger and fuller aircraft, not from more routes and frequencies to emerging markets. This lack of connectivity is damaging the UK economy," Colin Matthews, CEO. Source: Company statement, 11-May-2012.