Passenger traffic for BAA in April was down by 22.7% compared with the same month last year, new figures have revealed.

The reduction in figures has been blamed on the volcanic ash cloud which closed UK airspace for several days last month.

In total, BAA’s UK airports handled 6.9 million passengers over April. Southampton is estimated to have suffered the biggest loss, with passengers number down by 27% compared with the same period last year.

Edinburgh suffered the second biggest loss, down by 26%, while Heathrow and Stansted were down by 21%.

In total, the group recorded a decrease of 21% in the number of air transport movements handled, with all airports reporting falls of between 15 and 25%.