Figures released by industry body Airports Council International indicated a slowing of traffic growth across Europe.

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Heathrow, which is a major international hub, was ranked the third busiest airport in the world in 2012 after Atlanta and Beijing, according to Airports Council International.

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"We think the real answer is for airlines to meet with airports and say, 'This is what I need, ' " said Deborah McElroy, executive vice president of Airports Council International-North America.

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Airports Council International reports that during the recession, a lot of carriers focused more on international traffic, which gave the larger international gateways, such as the ones above, a bit of a cushion.

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"It used to be at an airport you could get anything you wanted--as long as it's a hot dog or a piece of cold pizza, " jokes Greg Principato, president of the North American Region of the Airports Council International.

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Heathrow achieved an all-time record passenger satisfaction score in a survey produced by the Airports Council International for the third quarter, but the percentage of people passing through central security within the prescribed time was below last year's level at 92.8% in 2012.

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The international airports council, ACI, said a total of 313 airports had been paralysed by the restrictions and the global backlog was affecting more than 6.8 million travellers.

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O'Hare airport is the sixth busiest passenger airport in the world, according to the latest data available from Airport Council International, a trade organization representing airports.

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So when Airport Council International (ACI) recently announced its ranking of the best airports in 2012, smart travellers paid attention.

BBC: The best airports of 2012