MONTERREY, Mexico, Nov. 7, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mexican airport operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte, S.A.B. de C.V., known as OMA, reports that total passenger traffic (terminal passengers) at its 13 airports decreased 10.5% in October 2008, as compared to October 2007.
Domestic traffic in October 2008 decreased 10.1% (-101,022 passengers) compared to the prior year period. Traffic at Durango, Mazatlan, Ciudad Juarez, Culiacan, Torreon, Chihuahua, and Monterrey were affected principally by the cancellation of frequencies by Aviacsa and VivaAerobus, the suspension of Aerocalifornia, and the departure of Avolar from OMA's airports. The reduction in traffic in San Luis Potosi was principally the result of a reduction in frequencies by Click Mexicana and a decrease in general aviation. The airports in Reynosa, Acapulco, and Zacatecas increased domestic traffic, principally as a result of increased activity on the part of Volaris, Alma, Interjet, and Click Mexicana. The start of operations on October 22, 2008 of Volaris in Chihuahua with a route to Toluca was noteworthy.
International traffic decreased 12.9% (-20,789 passengers) in October 2008, as compared to October 2007. The airports of Monterrey, Mazatlan, Zihuatanejo, Zacatecas, and Culiacan were the most affected, principally as a result of a reduction in frequencies and cancellation of routes by some U.S. carriers and the departure of Delta from some airports.
Total Passengers*
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Change Jan- Jan- Change
(Thousand) Oct Oct % Oct Oct %
-07 -08 2007 2008
Domestic 999 898 (10.1) 9,724 9,973 2.6
International 161 140 (12.9) 2,047 1,985 (3.0)
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OMA Total 1,160 1,039 (10.5) 11,771 11,959 1.6
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* Terminal passengers: excludes transit passengers
On October 21, 2008, the charter airline Aladia announced the suspension of its operations as a result of the difficult business environment facing the air transport industry, together with the International economic and financial crisis. This airline carried 1.4% of OMA's total passenger traffic for the first 10 months of 2008.
By airport
Monterrey, OMA's principal airport, served 506,815 passengers in October 2008, a decrease of 9.3% (-51,734 passengers) compared to the same month of 2007. Domestic traffic at Monterrey airport decreased 9.3%, principally as a result of a lower volume of traffic on Aviacsa and the cancellation of some routes by VivaAerobus. International traffic decreased 8.8%, affected by a reduction in flight frequencies by Continental and a reduced load factor on American Airlines.
Acapulco, OMA's third largest airport, recorded growth of 10.0% in October. Domestic traffic increased 11.5% as a result of an increase in passenger traffic to and from Toluca, Mexico City, and Tijuana. International traffic decreased 1.4%, principally because of a reduction in traffic to Houston and Phoenix.
The Reynosa airport continued to generate positive results. October total passenger traffic increased 19.1%, largely because of Volaris, Click Mexicana, and Alma.
The complete traffic report is available at http://ir.oma.aero.
About OMA
Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte, S.A.B. de C.V., known as OMA, operates 13 international airports in nine states of central and northern Mexico. OMA's airports serve Monterrey, Mexico's third largest metropolitan area, the tourist destinations of Acapulco, Mazatlan, and Zihuatanejo, and nine other regional centers and border cities. OMA employs over 950 persons in order to offer passengers and clients, airport and commercial services in facilities that comply with all applicable international safety, security standards, and ISO 9001:2000. OMA's strategic shareholder members are ICA, Mexico's largest engineering, procurement, and construction company, and Aeroports de Paris Management, subsidiary of Aeroports de Paris, the second largest European airports operator. OMA is listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange (OMA) and on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (OMAB). Please visit our website, www.oma.aero.
This press release may contain forward-looking information and statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "target," or similar expressions. While OMA's management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of OMA, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed in our Annual Report filed on Form 20-F under the caption "Risk Factors." OMA undertakes no obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.