The recession set back the growth in air travel by six years, according to the CAA.

UK airports handled 17 million fewer passengers last year, a 7.3% drop on 2008. It was the  first time numbers have fallen consecutively for two years, reducing passenger numbers 218 million passengers, the lowest since 2004.

However, the rate of decline eased throughout 2009 after falling the most in the first quarter of the year, and there were signs of increasing demand at the end of the year.

Harry Bush, CAA director of economic regulation, said the figures highlighted the “enormous” impact the recession had on the aviation industry.

“Passenger numbers are now back to the level they were six years ago and, although they will certainly rebound, the pace of recovery is uncertain and it could be a number of years before they reach their peak level again,” he said.

The decrease in passenger numbers was more marked in the first quarter of the year, with a drop of 12.5% over the same period in 2008.

The rate of decline then eased and passenger numbers in the last quarter of 2009 were down only 3.8% compared with the same quarter in 2008.

Signs of increasing demand were seen in the second half of the year. Passengers travelling to and from international destinations other than Europe and North America grew by 4% in the second half of 2009 compared with the same period in 2008.

The CAA said its data showed the weakening of the pound had reduced demand for Eurozone holidays from UK residents, an effect only partially offset by an increase in holiday travel to the UK by Eurozone residents.