Air passenger numbers dip after strikes and ash cloud
Volcanic ash cloud and British Airways cabin crew strike have caused a dip in passengers travelling abroad, airport operator BAA says
Thursday, 10, Jun 2010 12:24
By Sarah Garrod.
The volcanic ash cloud and British Airways cabin crews have caused a dip in passenger travelling abroad, airport operator BAA has said today.
Passenger numbers in BAA's airports fell 4.5 per cent in May, compared with May 2009.
The operator said Heathrow handled 5.3 million passengers, 3.1 per cent down on last year; but without the impacts of strikes and ash cloud, it is estimated that the airport would have recorded an increase of 2.8 per cent and the group as whole an increase of 0.4 per cent.
"In total, BAA's UK airports recorded a drop of 4.8 per cent in the number of air transport movements. Continuing a period of exceptionally strong growth in cargo traffic, and despite the drop in aircraft movements, cargo tonnage was up by 36.1 per cent at Heathrow and by 33.7 per cent at the wider group level," BAA said in a statement.
Planned British Airways strikes finished yesterday but the union Unite has warned it could ballot for more walk-outs if an agreement with the airline's chief executive Willie Walsh cannot be made.