MONTERREY, Mexico, May 8, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mexican airport operator
Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte, S.A.B. de C.V., known as OMA (Nasdaq:OMAB)
(BMV:OMA), reports that total passenger traffic (terminal passengers) at its 13
airports decreased 17.7% in April 2009, as compared to April 2008. Domestic
traffic decreased 18.0%, and international traffic decreased 16.1%.
For comparative purposes, it should be noted that during 2008 the Holy Week and
Easter holiday travel period took place in March, while in 2009 it occurred in
April.
Total Passengers*
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Jan-Apr Jan-Apr
(Thousands) Apr-08 Apr-09 Change % 2008 2009 Change %
Domestic 1,031.2 846.0 (18.0) 3,983.6 3,262.2 (18.1)
International 192.0 161.2 (16.1) 986.0 791.5 (19.7)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
OMA Total 1,223.3 1,007.2 (17.7) 4,969.6 4,053.7 (18.4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
* Terminal passengers: includes passengers on the three types of
aviation (commercial, charter, and general aviation), and
excludes passengers in transit.
A material event during the month was the outbreak of the A(H1N1) flu, also
known as swine flu. Mexico issued a health alert on the evening of April 23,
2009, and starting April 24 began implementing measures recommended by the
authorities. These measures included screening of all departing international
passengers for signs of flu infection effective April 29, as ordered by the
Ministry of Communications and Transportation. Based on traffic statistics for
commercial aviation (96.9% of the total), OMA's airports reported a 16.3%
reduction in average daily passengers for the period April 24-30, as compared to
the daily average for the period April 1-23; domestic and traffic decreased
15.7% and international traffic decreased 19.4%. At the present time, OMA cannot
estimate the impact that the influenza outbreak and public health measures will
have on passenger traffic volumes, the number of flight operations, or the
financial condition of the company. Much will depend on how long this situation
continues and its impact on economic activity.
Domestic traffic in April 2009 decreased 18.0% (-185,263 pax), compared to the
same month of 2008. With the exception of Zihuatanejo, the other airports
recorded reductions in domestic traffic. The most affected airports were
Monterrey, Ciudad Juarez, and Culiacan. The departure from the market of
Aerocalifornia, Avolar, Aladia, and Alma in the second half of 2008 and the
reduction in frequencies or cancellation of routes by Aviacsa, VivaAerobus, and
Grupo Aeromexico were the principal factors that affected domestic traffic. The
opening of the Durango-Tijuana route by Interjet, the Monterrey-Aguascalientes
route by Aeromexico Connect, and the Monterrey-Guadalajara route by VivaAerobus
were noteworthy.
International traffic decreased 16.1% (-30,840 pax) in April 2009 compared to
April 2008. Traffic was. The airports of Monterrey, Acapulco, Zihuatanejo,
Acapulco, and Mazatlan were the ones most affected by the reduction of routes
and frequencies by U.S. carriers. There was an increase in international
passengers at the Zacatecas airport as a result of an increase in the number of
passengers flying to and from Chicago and Los Angeles.
By airport
Monterrey, OMA's principal airport, served 445,625 passengers in April 2009, a
reduction of 22.5% (-129,580 pax) compared to the same month of the prior year.
Domestic passenger traffic decreased 23.2%, and international passenger traffic
decreased 17.6% as the result of the reduction in frequencies or cancellation of
routes by U.S. and domestic carriers, the end of operations by several domestic
airlines last year, and the flu outbreak during the month.
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.
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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
