* Domestic traffic grows 5.8%
* International traffic grows 5.9%
MONTERREY, Mexico, June 6, 2008 (PRIME 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 increased 5.9%
in May 2008, as compared to May 2007.
Domestic traffic in May 2008 increased 5.8% (+58,700 passengers), compared to
the prior year period. The airports that reported the most significant growth in
passenger traffic were Reynosa, Acapulco, Ciudad Juarez, and Monterrey, as a
result of an increase in frequencies and a higher occupation rate on some
airlines. The airports in Durango, Torreon, Zacatecas, and Chihuahua registered
reductions, as a result of lower load factors and the cancellation of
frequencies and routes by Aerocalifornia and Aviacsa, principally.
International traffic increased 5.9% (+9,724 passengers) in May 2008, as
compared to May 2007. Airports in Chihuahua, San Luis Potosi, Monterrey,
Tampico, Torreon, and Zihuatanejo showed growth, principally as a result of the
opening of new international routes. Airports in Culiacan, Acapulco, Mazatlan,
and Zacatecas recorded reductions in international traffic, as a result of a
reduction in scheduled international flights by various carriers.
Total Passengers*
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan-May Jan-May
(Thousand) May-07 May-08 Change % 2007 2008 Change %
Domestic 1,014.5 1,073.2 5.8 4,516.4 5,056.8 12.0
International 166.2 175.9 5.9 1,179.1 1,161.9 (1.5)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
OMA Total 1,180.6 1,249.1 5.8 5,695.6 6,218.6 9.2
-------------------------------------------------------------------
* Terminal passengers: excludes transit passengers
By airport
Monterrey, OMA's principal airport, served 619,417 passengers in May 2008, an
increase of 9.4% (+53,185 passengers) compared to the same month of 2007.
Domestic traffic at Monterrey airport increased 8.9% as a result of an increase
in frequencies and higher load factors principally on the routes to and from
Mexico City, Toluca, Cancun, Guadalajara, and Veracruz. International traffic
increased 12.6% as a result of new routes to Austin on VivaAerobus, New York on
Mexicana, and Detroit on Northwest and Aeromexico (starting in April).
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 900 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 communication 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.
-0-
CONTACT: OMA
Victor Bravo Martin, CFO
+52.81.8625.4300 ext.308
vbravo@oma.aero
Zemi Communications
Daniel Wilson
+1.212.689.9560
dbmwilson@zemi.com
