Global airports welcome record 4.4b passengers in '06

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GENEVA, July 19 (Xinhua): World international and domestic airports handled a record number of 4.4 billion passengers in 2006, a 4.8 per cent increase over 2005, the Airports Council International (ACI) said yesterday.
Meanwhile, 85.6 million metric tons of cargo were processed by global airports last year, an increase of 3.6 per cent from 2005, said the Geneva-based organisation, which has more than 1,640 member airports in 178 countries and territories.
"The statistics tell a great story-growth and stability," said ACI Director General Robert J Aaronson in a statement.
"Three quarters of airports worldwide reported positive passenger growth. The figures are equally positive in broader economic terms, with traffic closely aligned to world GDP growth of just over 5 per cent in 2006."
ACI statistics show that worldwide international passenger traffic grew by a brisk 6.8 per cent in 2006, with strong markets in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions. Tourism destinations also drove traffic increases across the African continent.
Domestic passenger traffic also grew in most regions.
"In 2006 each region manifested trends that mirror improved global economic growth," said Aaronson.
"Airports look forward to playing a central role in a competitive environment as pillars of healthy local and regional economies, promoting new business development and stable employment."
Meanwhile, Malaysia and India have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to liberalise air services between the two countries, local media reported today.
"This agreement will pave the way for growth in air operation between India and Malaysia," the Indian High Commission said in a statement released here yesterday.
"As a direct outcome of these talks, the operations of Air India Express on the India-Malaysia route are likely to commence soon," the New Straits Times quoted the statement as saying.
Under the MoU, the aeronautical authorities of both sides can designate any number of airlines they wish to operate on the India-Malaysia route.
"The capacity entitlement for the designated airlines of both sides has been significantly liberalised, marking a 50 per cent increase with effect from the IATA (International Air Transport Association) Winter Schedule 2007/08 between Malaysia and 6 major destinations in India, namely Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad.