The Australian newspaper is reporting Australia's two largest airports, Sydney and Melbourne, are reporting an increase in passenger numbers as local and international airlines are adding more flights.
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport said international and domestic travellers passing through its terminals rose six per cent in the three months to September 30, 2012, compared with the prior corresponding period.
International passengers rose by four per cent while domestic travellers were up seven per cent, Melbourne Airport said in a statement on Friday.
The biggest increase in overseas visitors came from Hong Kong, up 23 per cent in the quarter. The number of Chinese passport holder rose 15.3 per cent, while Fijians travelling to Melbourne increased by 18.8 per cent, the airport said.
Sydney Airport chief executive Kerrie Mather said the 5.6 per cent growth in domestic passengers was the fourth straight month of improvement.
"The result benefited from robust capacity growth, in particular by Jetstar and Tiger, with each airline adding more than 100,000 seats relative to September 2011," Ms Mather said in a statement.
Sydney Airport said international passengers were up 7.2 per cent in September, which, Ms Mather said, traditionally was a leisure-travel month.
Tiger Airways have announced they will commence services between Melbourne and Mackay four times a week, and between Sydney and Mackay five times a week from mid December.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/breaking-news/passengers-up-at-sydney-melbourne-airport/story-e6frg90f-1226499216378 for Australian news item.
for Sydney Airport media release.
http://melbourneairport.com.au/News-Events/News-Events-Archive/2012/melbourne-airport-achieves-6-per-cent-total-passenger-growth-for-first-quarter-.html for Melbourne Airport media release
http://melbourneairport.com.au/News-Events/News-Events-Archive/2012/melbourne-airport-welcomes-extra-tiger-airways-services-to-north-queensland.html for Melbourne Airport media release.