BUSIEST DECEMBER ON RECORD FOR BAA AIRPORTS

Ten million passengers travelled through BAA's seven UK airports in December,
an increase of 6.2% compared to December 2002. The airports experienced their
busiest ever December Christmas period and handled a record number of
passengers in the calendar year 2003, up 3.6 per cent at 131.1 million,
compared with 2002.

In the calendar year six of the group's seven airports experienced their
highest ever traffic levels, with Stansted in particular exceeding
expectations, up 16.6% in 2003, to 18.7 million passengers. Only Aberdeen
suffered a reduction.

Most major markets saw increases in December, with European scheduled traffic
performing strongly, up 9.9%, North Atlantic traffic up 2.1%, and other long
haul traffic up 8.7%. Domestic routes grew by 4.2% whilst European charter
traffic dipped 3.3%.

Stansted had a strong month, up 21.4%, whilst Heathrow, up 3.4%, and Gatwick,
up 3.9%, continued their steady improvement. Southampton's new network of
scheduled services supported an 81.7% increase and the Scottish airports grew
by 2.1%.

The increase in air transport movements at BAA airports in December of 2.1% was
significantly less than the growth in passengers, reflecting higher load
factors. Cargo tonnage rose by 1.6% in December, continuing its gradually
improving trend.

              For further information on BAA plc see www.baa.com               

                                                                               
BAA Traffic Summary : December 2003                                            
                                                                               
Terminal                        %   Fin year to        %    Calendar          %
                                          date:                                
                                                                               
Passengers (000s) Month    Change Apr to Dec 03 Change** Year 2003   Change*** 
                                *                                              
                                                                               
Heathrow           5,200.3    3.4      49,201.3      0.5    63,200.3        0.3
                                                                               
Gatwick            1,957.8    3.9      24,142.9      1.1    29,895.3        1.3
                                                                               
Stansted           1,550.0   21.4      15,020.1     15.1    18,712.4       16.6
                                                                               
London Area Total  8,708.1    6.3      88,364.2      2.9   111,808.1        3.0
                                                                               
Southampton          100.4   81.7       1,049.2     68.1     1,219.5       54.2
                                                                               
Glasgow              490.9   -0.1       6,580.4      3.4     8,117.6        4.4
                                                                               
Edinburgh            541.0    5.3       5,855.5      7.4     7,477.3        8.2
                                                                               
Aberdeen             191.0   -0.7       1,972.3     -2.7     2,520.0       -2.3
                                                                               
Scottish Total     1,222.9    2.1      14,408.3      4.1    18,114.9        4.9
                                                                               
BAA Total         10,031.4    6.2     103,821.7      3.4   131,142.4        3.6
                                                                               
                                                                               
Air Transport                   %    Fin year to         %    Calendar        %
                                           date:                               
                                                                               
Movements        Month    Change*  Apr to Dec 03  Change**   Year 2003 Change**
                                                                              *
                                                                               
Heathrow           37,162     1.1        346,049      -1.2     457,027     -0.7
                                                                               
Gatwick            17,024    -1.1        182,721      -1.3     234,899      0.1
                                                                               
Stansted           13,675     4.3        132,155       7.6     171,320     10.9
                                                                               
London Area        67,861     1.2        660,925       0.4     863,246      1.6
Total                                                                          
                                                                               
Southampton         2,617    28.5         26,395      22.9      32,750     17.0
                                                                               
Glasgow             6,367     1.3         68,908       0.0      88,736      0.4
                                                                               
Edinburgh           8,347     4.8         80,690       0.0     106,196      0.3
                                                                               
Aberdeen            6,267     0.6         60,152      -3.9      78,551     -4.6
                                                                               
Scottish Total     20,981     2.4        209,750      -1.2     273,483     -1.1
                                                                               
BAA Total          91,459     2.1        897,070       0.6   1,169,479      1.3
                                                                               
                                                                               
Cargo                           %    Fin year to         %    Calendar        %
                                           date:                               
                                                                               
(Metric Tonnes)  Month    Change* Apr to Dec 03   Change**   Year 2003 Change**
                                                                              *
                                                                               
Heathrow          103,585     1.5        918,943      -3.1   1,223,510     -0.9
                                                                               
Gatwick            18,399    -4.7        167,332      -9.3     222,964     -8.1
                                                                               
Stansted           16,935     7.5        152,114       5.5     200,105      7.4
                                                                               
London Area       138,919     1.3      1,238,389      -3.0   1,646,579     -1.0
Total                                                                          
                                                                               
Southampton            21   -34.4            253     -18.0         325    -17.6
                                                                               
Glasgow               413    80.3          4,663      -2.7       5,299     -3.2
                                                                               
Edinburgh           2,037    15.7         19,457      10.2      24,835     16.8
                                                                               
Aberdeen              252    -1.6          2,687      -4.3       3,485     -7.7
                                                                               
Scottish Total      2,702    20.4         26,807       6.1      33,619     10.2
                                                                               
BAA Total         141,642     1.6      1,265,449      -2.9   1,680,523     -0.8
                                                                               
Above data excludes Air Taxi passengers and Air Taxi movements.                
                                                                               
* compared to the month of December 2002                                       
                                                                               
** compared to the nine months April to December 2002                          
                                                                               
*** compared to the Calendar Year 2002                                         


Market Comparison: December 2003                            
                                                            
                     BAA Total         BAA Total            
                                                            
Market                       Dec 02       Dec 03            
                                                            
                             (000s)       (000s)    % Change
                                                            
Domestic                      1,925        2,005         4.2
                                                            
Eire                            478          488         2.1
                                                            
European Scheduled            3,518        3,867         9.9
                                                            
European Charter*               539          521        -3.3
                                                            
North Atlantic                1,422        1,451         2.1
                                                            
Other Long Haul               1,563        1,698         8.7
                                                            
Total                         9,444       10,031         6.2

Market Comparison: Calendar Year 2003                        
                                                             
                     BAA Total         BAA Total             
                                                             
Market                Jan-Dec 2002  Jan-Dec 2003             
                                                             
                            (000s)        (000s)     % Change
                                                             
Domestic                    24,096        25,582          6.2
                                                             
Eire                         6,326         6,305         -0.3
                                                             
European Scheduled          46,603        50,152          7.6
                                                             
European Charter*           13,672        13,268         -3.0
                                                             
North Atlantic              17,833        17,629         -1.1
                                                             
Other Long Haul             18,098        18,206          0.6
                                                             
Total                      126,629       131,142          3.6

* includes North African Charter

Note: Origins and destinations are classified according to ultimate origin or
destination of aircraft in the case of multi sector flights

Note: Figures for the market sectors have been rounded. Totals as per Traffic
Summary.



END