The number of passengers travelling through BAA's seven airports fell by 6% in October.

This is the seventh month in succession that the airline has suffered falling traffic volumes, as demand for air travel declines due to the credit crunch and rising fares caused by increasing fuel prices.

Among the London airports traffic fell by just under 4% at Heathrow, 10% at Gatwick and 6% at Stansted.

Airlines have been particularly affected by the current economic downturn, as illustrated by the recent collapse of Zoom Airlines and XL Airways.