MANCHESTER Airport's Terminal Two was eerily quiet.

Admittedly, now is not the favoured time to travel but hundreds do take advantage of winter deals each year.

But this year has been no normal year.

The horrific events of September 11 have rocked the holiday industry and like every other airport across the world, Manchester's has been badly affected.

Today, the Bolton Evening News can reveal levels of holidaymakers at the airport are falling. There seems to be no other reason for this fall than a real fear for safety once 10,000ft up in the air.

But bosses of the country's largest provincial airport are confident the industry will pick itself up.

Many holidaymakers surveyed by the BEN at the airport yesterday said, although they have decided to go ahead with their holidays, doubts about safety were at the back of their minds.

They said that the price and simple chance to going on holiday this year was too great to give up for terrorists.

Bert Ellis, from Deane, Bolton, said yesterday: "I have still got my faith in flying but it is very quiet today leading me to believe that others have lost their faith.

"Normally it is very busy, all the seats are full. They even asked us where we wanted to sit on the plane!"

And traders operating from inside the departure lounge also reported a drop in income yesterday. One said: "Figure-wise, we have been taking slightly less money."

John Spooner, managing director at Manchester Airport, said: "We are keen to do absolutely everything we can to help our operators and passengers emerge from this period of uncertainty in the best possible shape.

"We have seen a number of carriers suspend operations as a result of reduced passenger traffic and financial demands.

"There has also been a slight drop in passenger numbers and airports have also incurred substantial additional costs through the implementation of new security measures required by the Government. The appalling events of September 11 have obviously had a devastating effect on the whole aviation industry and restoring passenger confidence is crucial."

Flights are now operating normally from Manchester Airport.

But those to North America and Canada - operated from Manchester by eight companies - are down seven per cent.

"We feel this is a robust performance under the circumstances," said Mr Spooner.

Levels of passenger growth for October are growing at one per cent - an encouraging figure. But how next year's holiday bookings will be hit is a fact yet to be discovered.

The charter-market is also up eight per cent.

Mr Spooner added: "Manchester Airport's network of services has so far held up reasonably well but we know that our carriers are not immune from the pressures that the industry is facing world-wide.

"Just after the attacks, flights to the US were cancelled and other flights were affected in terms of delays mainly as a result of the additional security checks but I am pleased that disruption was minimal.

"As I have said, we have found that most people are going on the holiday they have booked - but the prospects for next season will need to be assessed as the situation develops."

One of the only airline winners seems to by the smaller operating companies like easyJet. But, predict Manchester Airport, their time to struggle will arrive.

"Airlines serving European destinations and some of the low fare carriers have seen business pick up and be less affected by declines in passenger numbers. But, there's no doubt that airlines and airports will need to look again at their business plans and adjust them accordingly to the lower forecast demand in the short to medium term," added Mr Spooner.

"We are likely to face difficult constraints for a while but I am very hopeful that the demands for air travel will recover and bounce back to previous trends."

Security is also a big issue at Manchester Airport.

Since the Government ordered increased levels of security, 10,000 items including nail files, toe-nail clippers and pen knives and been seized from hand luggage.

Passengers have been asked to safeguard their luggage, be vigilant and leave unnecessary items at home.

Obviously, the terrorist attacks have sent unprecedented levels of panic and shock around the world.

The airline industry is hoping we can rise above them.