British Airways announced a dramatic 11.6 per cent decline in passenger numbers today.

The company released a report this afternoon into the number of travellers using its aircraft.

The report reveals the substantial drop in numbers compared with the same time last year. Passenger numbers to the American continent were down 32.1 per cent on September 2000.

Forward bookings for this month indicate traffic will be down by 25 to 30 per cent compared with last October, the company said.

It is the latest blow to the airline industry, which has suffered a drop in trade since the terror attacks in America last month.

The decline in passenger numbers follows the announcement by cargo-handling group Aviance that it was cutting baggage handling and check-in jobs at Gatwick Airport.

More than 250 jobs could be lost at the company's Gatwick base, among 700 losses across the country.

Staff at all Aviance divisions were sent a bulletin about the decision on Monday.

Hoaxers are adding to security pressures at Gatwick by making prank hijack threats.

In the latest incidents a 26-year-old woman, about to board an Excel Airways flight, asked staff if she could be upgraded because she wanted to hijack the plane.

Police were called and she was advised about her behaviour. The airline allowed her to fly.

The same day a 53-year-old man told security staff who were searching him that he had a gun in his bag. It turned out to be a pair of glasses.

The airline refused to carry him and police have reported him under the Air Navigation Act.

In the first two weeks following the terrorist attacks ten people made bomb-in-suitcase jokes at the airport.