Sydney Airport posts traffic increase

In a further encouraging sign of a pickup in air travel, Sydney Airport has reported a double-digit increase in passenger traffic in February.

Sydney Airport majority shareholder MAp Group said on Friday passenger traffic increased 12.3 per cent in February, compared with the prior corresponding period.

Domestic or regional passenger numbers rose 12.3 per cent, while the number of international travellers was up 11.8 per cent.

MAp chief executive Kerrie Mather said the growth in domestic passenger numbers was attributable to additional capacity from local carriers Tiger Airways and Qantas Airways Ltd subsidiary Jetstar.

"February traffic has also been positively impacted by recent capacity increases and the later timing of Chinese New Year compared with 2009," Ms Mather said in a statement.

Ms Mather said the recent upgrade of facilities at Sydney's international terminal had received a positive response from travellers, with an independent survey showing 84 per cent scored the terminal seven out of 10 or better.

MAp Group is the former Macquarie Group satellite fund that became a standalone entity in October last year after paying a one-off termination fee of $345 million.

Apart from its 74 per cent ownership of Sydney Airport, MAp also has a 30.8 per cent stake in Copenhagen Airport and 36 per cent holding of Brussels Airport.

Traffic at Copenhagen increased 10.4 per cent in February, compared to the prior corresponding period, and was up 4.9 per cent at Brussels.

"This continues the positive recovery in traffic numbers across the MAp portfolio and all of our airports are benefiting from additional capacity announcements," Ms Mather said.

MAp also holds an interest in a number of Mexican airports.