The given table compares the figures of passengers using three main airports in British: Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted in the 6-year period from 1998 to 2003. From an overall perspective, it can be observed that even though the number of passengers at the three airports showed upward trends, the number of people arriving at and departing from Gatwick airport each year was the largest for most of the time in question.
The number of travellers using Gatwick airport in 1998 was 36. 5 million, which was far more than that of the other airports in the same year. Next, the figure increased considerably to merely above 50 million in 2002, before reaching a peak of 69. 3 million in 2003.
With regards to the number of passengers at Heathrow airport, it began at 27. 2 million in 1998 and then peaked at 48. 2 million in 2000, surpassing the figure for Gatwick airport in the same year by 4 million. Subsequently, there was a sharp fall of 15 million between 2000 and 2002 (48. 2 million to 32. 2 million). The figure then increased significantly to 45. 6 in 2003.
The figure of travellers using Stansted airport started at the lowest point of 17. 3 million in 1998, but rose rapidly before levelling off at 43. 3 million in the last three years from 2001 to 2003. 
The  
given
 table compares the  
figures
 of passengers using three main  
airports
 in British: Heathrow, Gatwick and  
Stansted
 in the  
6-year
 period from 1998 to 2003. From an  
overall
 perspective, it can  
be observed
 that  
even though
 the  
number
 of passengers at the three  
airports
  showed
 upward trends, the  
number
 of  
people
 arriving at and departing from Gatwick  
airport
 each  
year
 was the largest for most of the time in question.
The  
number
 of  
travellers
 using Gatwick  
airport
 in 1998 was 36. 5  
million
, which was far more than that of the other  
airports
 in the same  
year
.  
Next
, the  
figure
 increased  
considerably
 to  
merely
 above 50  
million
 in 2002,  
before
 reaching a peak of 69. 3  
million
 in 2003. 
With regards to
 the  
number
 of passengers at Heathrow  
airport
, it began at 27. 2  
million
 in 1998 and then peaked at 48. 2  
million
 in 2000, surpassing the  
figure
 for Gatwick  
airport
 in the same  
year
 by 4  
million
.  
Subsequently
, there was a sharp fall of 15  
million
 between 2000 and 2002 (48. 2  
million
 to 32. 2  
million)
. The  
figure
 then increased  
significantly
 to 45. 6 in 2003.
The  
figure
 of  
travellers
 using  
Stansted
  airport
  started
 at the lowest point of 17. 3  
million
 in 1998,  
but
 rose  
rapidly
  before
 levelling off at 43. 3  
million
 in the last three years from 2001 to 2003.