The number of travellers using major UK airports fell to its lowest level for nine months in June, according to new figures from BAA.

The airport operator said a total of 12.7 million passengers passed through its airports last month, a reduction of 5.9% on the same period last year. But this represented the strongest underlying figure since last September, and suggesting that the worse could be over.

Domestic traffic was down 8.1% in June, European scheduled flight passengers were reduced by 2.8% and travellers on North Atlantic routes were 9.4% lower.

Edinburgh was the only airport to register a rise in traveller numbers, up 1.4% and its third consecutive month of growth.

Heathrow recorded a comparatively modest fall of 3.1%, whilst Gatwick fell 7.6%. Stansted came out worst of BA’s portfolio of seven airports, falling 11.5% in June, and down 14.4% in the first half of 2000.

Glasgow and Aberdeen dropped 10.9% and 9.8% respectively.

BAA remains caught up in a battle against the Competition Commission’s decision to make it sell three of its airports, including Gatwick and Stansted, plus either Glasgow or Edinburgh.