BAA pax traffic up 1.0% in Sep-2011, cargo lower

BAA reports passenger traffic up 1.0% - traffic highlights in Sep-2011:

• Passenger numbers: 10.1 million, +1.0%;
• Cargo volume: 139,065 tonnes, -3.7%;
• Aircraft movements: 81,619, stable.

Highlights by airport:

London Heathrow:

• Passenger numbers: 6,310,903, +1.4%;
  • UK and Channel Islands: 421,155, -14.5%;
  • Ireland: 193,751, +1.1%;
  • European scheduled: 2,411,757, +2.5%;
  • European charter: 12,153, +73.7%;
  • America: 1,493,275, +3.5%;
  • Other long-haul: 1,778,812, +2.5%;
• Cargo volume: 119,097, -3.7%;
• Aircraft movements: 40,528, +1.3%;

London Stansted:

• Passenger numbers: 1,704,009, -4.0%;
• Cargo volume: 17,490, -4.1%;
• Aircraft movements: 12,563, -4.6%;

Southampton:

• Passenger numbers: 175,733, +0.6%;
• Cargo volume: 14, -36.4%;
• Aircraft movements: 3746, -4.0%;

Glasgow:

• Passenger numbers: 696,851, +3.2%;
• Cargo volume: 306, -19.5%;
• Aircraft movements: 6376, -2.9%;

Edinburgh:

• Passenger numbers: 899,821, +3.0%;
• Cargo volume: 1586, -2.0%;
• Aircraft movements: 9659, +0.6%;

Abderdeen:

• Passenger numbers: 298,682, +11.3%;
• Cargo volume: 572, +9.2%;
• Aircraft movements: 8747, +4.9%.

BAA: "Passenger numbers rose in September, with stronger growth across the Group than in July and August. Slightly softer Heathrow traffic in the latter part of September, vigilance in the near term from individual carriers and problems facing the European economy make us cautious about predicting traffic growth trends in the coming months. However, Heathrow is expected to demonstrate its previous resilience if a more challenging economic environment emerges," Colin Matthews, CEO. Source: BAA, 11-Oct-2011.

BAA: "It is also important to distinguish between the recent growth in passenger numbers and the longer term picture for the UK. While existing routes are performing well, capacity constraints mean the UK is lagging behind in its connections to emerging market destinations - for example Paris and Frankfurt already boast 1000 more annual flights to China's three largest cities than Heathrow. The UK is not just missing out on flight connections, but the economic growth these links bring," Colin Matthews, CEO. Source: BAA, 11-Oct-2011.