MEXICO. Airport authority ASUR (Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste) has announced a +103.4% surge in international passenger numbers at the nine airports it operates in southeast Mexico, compared to December 2005. International passenger numbers were 761,652 in the month.
The increase was mainly due to a doubling in international passengers at Cancun International Airport, to 695,123 in the month. Traffic at Cozumel Airport rose by more than +500% in the month.
Total passenger traffic (domestic and international) grew +58.5% in December 2006 compared to December 2005. Passenger numbers were 1.3 million for the month across the nine airports ASUR operates.
The large rise in the year-on-year comparison at Cancun and Cozumel airports was mainly due to sharply reduced passenger traffic in December 2005 as a result of damage inflicted by Hurricane Wilma, which hit the Yucatan Peninsula in October 2005.
Although there has since been a substantial recovery, passenger traffic at these airports continues to be affected by the impact of Hurricane Wilma, said ASUR.
Public demonstrations in the city of Oaxaca have adversely affected tourism in the area and caused the cancellation of 68 flights to Oaxaca airport originally scheduled for December. The protests began in May as a teachers’ strike but have grown into more widespread unrest against the Oaxaca state government. The US State Department recently issued an advisory regarding travel to Oaxaca.
ASUR has concessions to operate, maintain and develop the airports of Cancun, Merida, Cozumel, Villahermosa, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Huatulco, Tapachula and Minatitlan in the southeast of Mexico.
MORE STORIES ON ASUR
Hurricane-hit ASUR airports report huge November passenger rises – 14/12/06
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September passenger numbers up in Hainan and Newcastle, down for ASUR – 19/10/06
