MELBOURNE AIRPORT HANDLED RECORD NUMBER OF TRAVELLERS

MELBOURNE, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- A record total of 6.4 million travellers
passed through Melbourne airport in the December quarter.

This was helped by events such as the spring racing carnival and the Boxing
Day cricket Test. Other capital city airports had falls in passenger numbers.

International passengers through Melbourne increased by two percent and
domestic traffic grew four percent over the previous quarter.

Arrivals from Southeast Asia increased almost 21 percent in December
compared with a year ago. The Malaysian and Indian markets were particularly
strong.

International traffic at Sydney Airport slumped 3.8 percent in October, 5.5
percent in November and 2.6 per cent in December.

Melbourne Airport chief executive Chris Woodruff told The Age newspaper
increased competition and more seating had helped growth.

He said figures for this quarter would slow down, but Melbourne would be
helped by events such as the Australian formula one Grand Prix and the
Australian Open tennis, and new daily services by Middle East carriers Etihad
and Emirates.
-- BERNAMA