BAA reports a gradual stabilisation of airport passenger numbers.

UK airport operator BAA has announced that passenger numbers began to stabilise in July as long-haul demand started to increase.

The operator, which owns seven airports in the UK including Heathrow, reported today (10 August) that after the recent decline in airport traffic, passenger numbers have begun to rise.

In July, 14.5 million people travelled through BAA’s airports, 2.4% lower than July 2008. However, despite the year-on-year fall, the decline is less than the 5.9% drop in June and 7.3% drop in May.

The picture for the aviation industry appears to be improving as year-on-year decline is shrinking with each passing month.

Traffic at some of BAA’s major airports has picked up, including Heathrow and Edinburgh. July 2009 was Heathrow’s busiest month since 2006 with 6.5 million passengers and was the third busiest month on record.

Many airlines have been forced to reduce the number of their flights and the overall number of airport transport movements has fallen by 5.1%.

The reduction in flights and this month’s increase in passengers saw Heathrow’s highest recorded figure for the average number of passengers per aircraft at 162.

BAA has been ordered by the Competition Commission to sell Gatwick, Stansted and either Glasgow or Edinburgh airport.

BAA also owns Southampton and Aberdeen airports.