Ouch, it seems that credit crunch is beginning to bite at BA’s UK airports.

Figures just released show that overall the airports handled a total of 13.3 million passengers in September – a decrease of 5% when compared with September 2007.

The largest drop in passenger traffic was at Glasgow Airport where passenger numbers fell by 11% compared with September 2007. This huge reduction was largely down to the collapse of XL and Zoom. BAA’s other Scottish airports both reported a fall in numbers: Aberdeen Airport down 4.2% and Edinburgh Airport down 2.9%.

Of BAA’s English airports, Stansted saw passenger numbers drop by 4.7%, Southampton airport down 4% and Heathrow airport saw a decrease of 3.6%. Gatwick airport reported an overall drop of 6.8% resulting from a 44% decrease in  North Atlantic traffic and an increase of 8.8% in European scheduled traffic - attributed to the introduction of the ‘Open Skies’ agreement.

Jet2.com has announced another new route for summer 2009 from Edinburgh Airport.

The new Edinburgh flights will operate to the German city of Düsseldorf and will commence on 29 March 2009.

Jet2.com has announced three new routes from Edinburgh airport.

The airline is to offer Edinburgh flights to Ibiza, Venice and Menorca from 21 May 2009 with prices starting at £35.99 – one way including taxes.

Edinburgh Airport has become the latest UK airport to install Common User Self Service (CUSS) terminals enabling passengers to check themselves in at the airport.

Air France, KLM and Flybe passengers will be offered the option of at one of the ten self-service kiosks located in the airport’s check-in hall – just to the left of the main entrance.

To use the self-service check-ins, customers will need to prove their identity by presenting a passport barcode, credit card, frequent flyer or transaction number at the machine – once they have printed out their boarding card they will be able to proceed to the fast drop desk to check-in their bags.

For up-to-date Edinburgh airport information and to book Edinburgh airport parking click on the links.

bmi is adding extra capacity to its Heathrow to Brussels flights due to yesterday’s Channel Tunnel fire .

Each of the seven flights opening the Heathrow-Brussels route today will benefit from larger Airbus aircraft, offering more seats for travellers needing to make the journey between the two capitals.

bmi regional flights between Brussels and Leeds Bradford airport are also benefiting from extra seats and larger aircraft being used.

bmi will continue to monitor the situation with regards to the tunnel closure and will offer larger aircraft on its Brussels routes as necessary over the coming days.

bmi operates the following flights to Brussels:

Mondays to Fridays there are seven return flights from Heathrow to Brussels, with three per day on Saturdays and Sundays.

bmi regional services operate from Brussels to the following UK airports: East Midlands airport, Leeds Bradford, Edinburgh airport.

bmi does not operate flights between London and Paris.

Ryanair is to delay the opening of its Edinburgh airport base due to strike action by staff at Boeing.

The airline was to take delivery of two new aircraft from Boeing to use on its new Edinburgh flights, however, indefinite strike action has meant the planes are unavailable.

Ryanair’s Edinburgh base was due to open on 23 September but has now been deferred until 5 November when the airline will be able to release aircraft from its fleet to operate the services.

Customers affected by the cancelled flights will be refunded over the next seven days.

For up-to-date Edinburgh airport information and to book Edinburgh airport parking using an instant online price checker click on the links.

Jet2.com has announced it is to launch a new summer service to Sardinia from Edinburgh Airport.

The new Edinburgh flights will operate once a week on Saturdays and launch on16 May 2009.

Jet2.com has successfully operated flights to Sardinia from Leeds airport this summer.

BAA, which owns and operates Aberdeen Airport, Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow Airport, has welcomed a report from a group of MSPs calling for extra marketing support for airlines flying in to Scotland.

Gordon Dewar, managing director of Glasgow and acting MD of Edinburgh Airport, said: “Aviation is an integral part of the social and economic life of our country, delivering thousands of high quality jobs, generating investment and sustaining our tourist industry, now, more than ever, the lifeblood of our economy.

We have made it clear that we believe there is a strong case for some form of EU-compliant marketing support fund and argued strongly for this in our evidence to the committee. Since 2002 BAA Scotland has invested in excess of £110 million in route development support for airlines starting new direct international services. This work has transformed Scotland’s international connectivity. We would welcome any additional support which builds on this success for the benefit of business and leisure travellers.

“The worldwide airline industry is entering a difficult phase, with many carriers reducing capacity or scaling back expansion plans as a result of rising fuel prices and the impact of the credit crunch. We are working hard to support our airlines, in partnership with organisations such as VisitScotland and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau. Any additional support would be welcome.”

A new weekly service from Edinburgh Airport to Dubrovnik has been launched by flyglobespan.

The new Edinburgh flights will operate every Wednesday.

For up-to-date Edinburgh airport information and to book Edinburgh airport hotels and Edinburgh airport parking click on the links.

BAA has announced the appointment of a managing director for its new airports division.

Stephen Peat will join BAA on 1 July from Amey Rail and will be responsible for running six of BAA’s seven UK Airports: Gatwick, Stansted, Edinburgh airport, Glasgow airport, Aberdeen airport and Southampton airport.