International passenger traffic grew by 6.7% at Sydney Airport in July, with Managing Director and CEO Kerrie Mather pointing to expanded airline services, a busy school holiday period and the British and Irish Lions Tour of New Zealand as key factors.

 

She said: “International traffic growth for July was very strong, increasing 6.7% on the prior corresponding period (pcp). With total traffic growth of 3.7%, it was a great start to the second half of 2017. Domestic passengers also delivered solid growth in July of 2.0%, compared with the pcp.

 

“July’s international result was driven by 5.5% capacity growth and nearly one percentage point increase in average load factors. The strong loads were underpinned by the busy school holiday period and the British and Irish Lions Tour of New Zealand.”

 

SERVING SEVEN CHINESE CITIES

At the same time Mather said that the airport is also pleased to be welcoming the seventh mainland Chinese airline – Beijing Capital Airlines – this October.

 

The new carrier will effectively launch the 15th mainland Chinese city destination for Sydney with flights to Qingdao, operating two flights a week with a 222-seat A330-200 – adding 46,000 seats annually.

 

In addition, Mather said: “Qatar Airways announced a second daily Doha service, commencing on 12 February 2018 following the very strong performance of their initial daily A380 service.

 

OSAKA FLIGHTS TO BEGIN THIS DECEMBER

“The new service will be operated with a tag to Canberra, on a 358-seat B777-300ER, adding more than 260,000 international seats per year.

 

“Qantas also announced seasonal flights between Sydney and Osaka from 14 December 2017. Qantas will operate three flights per week on an A330-300, generating an additional 10,500 seats on the Japanese market over our summer period. Osaka is currently Sydney’s largest unserved market,” said Mather.