Sydney Airport Managing Director and CEO Kerrie Mather reports that 2016 was an outstanding year, with international passenger growth up 8.9%, representing the fastest growth rate the airport has seen in the last 12 years.

 

She says it is also strongest total passenger traffic growth for six years and Sydney Airport and its airline and tourism partners are ‘proud’ to have supported aviation and tourism growth in both Sydney and New South Wales by adding almost 2.5m incremental seats in 2016.”

 

OUTSTANDING YEAR IN 2016

She said: “In December, international passenger growth was 7.2% compared to the prior corresponding period (pcp).

 

The inbound nationalities underpinning this result were Indonesia (+45.6%), Japan (+29.4%), India (+13.4%), USA (+10.0%) and China (+8.5%). Australian outbound passengers recorded 4.7% growth above the pcp.

 

“Domestic passenger numbers were 1.0% above pcp for the month and 3.8% for the year. The positive result for December was driven by domestic load factor improvements and larger aircraft during the peak holiday period.

 

MORE INCREMENTAL PASSENGERS

“We also welcomed the announcement of Australia’s first passenger operations of the Boeing B747-8 Intercontinental by Korean Airlines.

 

“The aircraft upgauge for the airline’s Seoul service will take effect in September 2017, delivering an incremental 40,320 annualised seats over the Northern Summer season and complementing Korean Airlines’ Airbus A380 operations during the Northern Winter season.”

 

 

Sydney airport adds that Qantas has confirmed that it will also operate its four-weekly Boeing B737-800 Bali service on a year-round basis from 26 March 2017, adding another 45,000 seats a year, while China Eastern Airlines’ new three-weekly Airbus A330-200 service from Wuhan will start later this month.