GLASGOW Airport last month enjoyed its busiest October since 2009 - recording a 2.6% year-on-year rise in passenger numbers to 714,350 - the latest statistics show.

The latest figure, released yesterday, was only slightly adrift of the 715,169 total for passenger numbers in October 2009.

Edinburgh Airport meanwhile said yesterday that it had enjoyed its busiest October on record.

It declared that 917,437 people had passed through its doors last month, up 8.7% on October 2012.

Glasgow Airport, part of the Heathrow Airport Holdings operation known formerly as BAA, reported a 3.2% year-on-year rise in domestic passenger traffic in October. International passenger traffic in October at Glasgow Airport was up by 2.1% on the same month of last year, with the school holidays boosting travel to sunshine destinations and North American services also in demand.

It highlighted the fact that October was the ninth straight month in which it had enjoyed year-on-year growth in passengers.

Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: "To record nine months of consecutive year-on-year growth is very encouraging.

"Our busiest weekend of the year falls in October, when thousands fly out for the school holiday week, and this year it was a great success. Our operational teams, airlines, retailers and other business partners deserve huge credit."

Edinburgh Airport, which was bought by Global Infrastructure Partners last year, said that its international passenger numbers totalled 489,373 last month, up by 11.6% on the October 2012 figure of 438,620.

Domestic passenger numbers at Edinburgh Airport totalled 428,064 in October, up by 5.6% from the 405,430 figure for the same month of last year.

Aberdeen International Airport said yesterday that its passenger numbers totalled nearly 327,800 in October, a rise of 3.8% on the same month of last year.

Carol Benzie, managing director of Aberdeen Airport, said: "October is always a diverse month for our passenger numbers.

"We see holiday flights increase around the popular October break, offset by a slight reduction in business flights for the same reason."

She added: "This year, the getaway presented us with what turned out to be our busiest ever day on October 11 when we processed more passengers than during our previous record during Offshore Europe week this year. It was a challenge which I am pleased to say that all our on-site teams rose to admirably."