AUSTRALIA. International passenger traffic at Sydney Airport rose sharply by +29.9% year-on-year in April.
Sydney Airport Corporation said that the strong international result reflects continued underlying growth in 2004 as well as weak traffic in April 2003 – due to the Iraq war and SARS.
Australian passenger numbers were up +44% year-on-year, buoyed by the strong Australian dollar. New Zealand traveller numbers rose +30%, continuing to benefit from increased trans-Tasman airfare competition.
Numbers from the US increased +10% and UK traveller figures were up +6%.
Predictably, passenger numbers from Asian markets, which were heavily affected by SARS in 2003, rose sharply.
Taiwan was up +91% (March +14%) year-on-year, China +48% (March -1%) and Singapore +74% (March +8%). South Korea posted a +27% rise (March -10%) and Japan grew +21% (March +9%).
Sydney Airport welcomed the new air rights agreement reached between Australia and Hong Kong. This doubles capacity between Australia and Hong Kong (which facilitates growth by Qantas and Cathay Pacific) and the start of daily Dragonair services in the second half of 2005.
MORE STORIES ON SYDNEY AIRPORT
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