September 2009
Newcastle handled 505,237 passengers in September 2009, down 2.7% on September 2009.
Rolling 12-month figure to the end of September is 4,659,844, down 9.6% on a year ago.
Newcastle was one of the first airports to suffer big falls in passenger numbers with the result that the early drops have now left the 12-month cycle, giving an impression of recovery.
To an extent it is true in that the rate of fall has been reduced.
However, although September's rolling 12-month figure is down 9.6% compared to August's 12-month figure drop of 10.6%, the 12 months ending in September saw fewer passengers handled than the 12 months ending August - 4,659,844 (Sept) and 4,673,874 (Aug).
Furthermore, a comparison with September 2007 shows Newcastle down nearly 17.7% in the 12-month rolling figure calculation - 5,660,490 (2007) and 4,659,844 (2009).
Most airports that have experienced big falls in the last year or more will soon begin to bottom out in this fashion, and just wait for the spin that is put on it.