Sydney Airport reports that it experienced its ‘busiest ever day’ of Chinese passengers with 7,400 Chinese nationals travelling through the airport on 27 February, in a month where total numbers grew by 2.5%, international by 2.1% and domestic by 2.7%.

 

CEO Kerrie Mather said: “International passengers grew 2.1% on the prior corresponding period as a result of a 2.8% point increase in load factors. Asia continues to be our fastest-growing region as rising wealth and urbanisation are driving an increasing propensity to travel.

 

“Economic recovery has supported consistently high growth in USA nationality passengers over the last year. Chinese (+23.7%), Indian (+15.6%), USA (+5.3%), Filipino (+23.5%), Canadian (+7.0%) and Taiwanese (+13.9%) nationality passengers were the major drivers of growth in February.

 

“Chinese New Year occurred on 19 February, supporting a 23.7% increase in Chinese passengers in the month. Sydney Airport had its busiest ever day of Chinese passengers with 7,400 Chinese nationals travelling through the airport on 27 February.

 

 

 

 

A REAL ‘CHINESE’ WELCOME

“The airport was brought to life with lion dancing and decorations, and our Mandarin speaking ambassadors were on hand to provide guidance through the airport.”

 

Mather added that over the last five years the number of Chinese passengers travelling during the Lunar New Year period has increased by 90%, with Sydney Airport hosting some 230,000 Chinese nationals in the first two months of the year.

 

She added: “Further travel related to Chinese New Year will continue through March. We are delighted to be facilitating so many Chinese travellers and the visiting friends and relatives market, as Sydney is home to the largest Australian-Chinese community.

 

“China remains our most significant growth market and we continue to work closely with airlines seeking to add services following the landmark increase in bilateral air right capacity announced in January.”

 

Mather added that the first two months of 2015 have also seen growth in the Australian outbound market of 2.4%.