Dublin Airport and Stansted in Essex are among the world's fastest-growing major airports, according to new figures. Stansted topped the growth poll among European airports with a 19.9 per cent rise in passengers and cargo in 1994-98.

By the same criteria, Dublin had the biggest growth (13.7 per cent) among major world airports, according to investment banking company Warburg Dillon Read.

The survey showed Heathrow was Europe's biggest airport, catering for 60.66 million passengers in 1998. Frankfurt and Charles de Gaulle in Paris were the next two biggest European airports in terms of passenger numbers.

Passenger-wise, Chicago was just ahead of Atlanta for the title of the world's biggest airport.

Heathrow was fourth in the world list, just behind Los Angeles, with Gatwick in 20th place having handled 29.17 million passengers in 1998.