Tourists and investors in foreign properties find regional airports more convenient than larger alternatives, experts have said.
According to the Airport Operators Association (AOA), the market share of major establishments such as Heathrow and Gatwick is declining because of the growth in regional aviation.
The body said that people tended to find it more convenient to fly from a local airport if they were able to, as this added to the accessibility of holiday and investment hotspots.
An AOA spokesman said: "If they can fly from their local airport, they will."
Despite the movement of passengers away from the UK's major airports, the spokesman insisted this did not mean there were problems in the sector.
"It's just a natural reflection of the fact that other airports are getting more and more routes," he stated.
Last week, BuyAssociation highlighted Paris as a popular investment spot largely because it was easy for people to get to from the UK.
A fantastic opportunity to invest with less than 3,100 EUR! A 12yr French Leaseback, 100% mortgages and VAT paid by the developer. From just 92,225 EUR for fully furnished units at Lake Geneva.