Troubled airports operator BAA experienced a 5.9% decline in passenger numbers in June, as the recession continues to affect business travel and holidaymakers.

Flights from Stansted fell 11.5%, Gatwick saw a fall of 7.6% and Heathrow saw traffic drop 3.6%.

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. Long-haul flights were the most resilient sector, only declining 0.2% since the same period last year.