Passenger traffic through the seven BAA airports, Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted in the South-East and Glasgow, Edinburgh, Prestwick and Aberdeen in Scotland is predominantly in the leisure sector and this sector is most affected by low fares. In 1978 this sector formed 65% of all traffic at the three South-East airports and 55% at the four airports in Scotland.

As Ray Colegate and Adam Thomson have said low fares are no new choice for air travellers. Low fares for charter operations with a range of fare options have been the main feature of the rapid passenger growth at Gatwick Airport for many years. This is also the case at Luton Airport which is not owned by the BAA but serves the South-East.