MONTERREY, Mexico, June 5, 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 39.7% in May 2009, as compared to May 2008. Domestic traffic decreased 37.6%, and international traffic decreased 52.7%. Traffic volumes were strongly affected by the public health measures taken as a result of the A(H1N1) flu outbreak.
Total Passengers*
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Jan-May Jan-May
(Thousands) May-08 May-09 Change % 2008 2009 Change %
Domestic 1,073.2 670.1 (37.6) 5,056.8 3,932.3 (22.2)
International 175.9 83.3 (52.7) 1,161.9 874.8 (24.7)
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OMA Total 1,249.1 753.4 (39.7) 6,218.6 4,807.1 (22.7)
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* Terminal passengers: includes passengers on the three types of
aviation (commercial, charter, and general aviation), and
excludes passengers in transit.
The health alert had its strongest impact on passenger traffic volumes during the first week of the month. Commercial aviation traffic at OMA's 13 airports (96.3% of total passenger traffic) during the week of May 1-7, 2009 showed a decrease of 55.3% as compared to the same period of 2008. From May 8-15 there was a decrease of 42.6%, from May 16-23 there was a decrease of 40.2%, and from May 24-31 there was a decrease of 26.6%. At the present time, OMA cannot estimate the impact that the influenza outbreak and public health measures implemented by the Mexican and other governments will have on passenger traffic volumes. Much will depend on how long this situation continues and its impact on economic activity.
Domestic traffic in May 2009 decreased 37.6% (-403,071 pax), compared to the same month of 2008. All airports recorded reductions in domestic traffic. The most affected airports were Monterrey, Ciudad Juarez, Acapulco, Tampico, Culiacan, and Chihuahua. In addition to the flu outbreak, passenger traffic was affected by the departure from the market of Aerocalifornia, Aladia, and Alma in the second half of 2008 and the reduction in frequencies or cancellation of routes by VivaAerobus, Grupo Mexicana, Grupo Aeromexico, Interjet, and Aviacsa.
International traffic decreased 52.7% (-92,613 pax) in May 2009 compared to May 2008. The reduction in frequencies and cancellation of routes by U.S. carriers in prior months, as well as the impact of the flu outbreak were the principal factors. Monterrey, Mazatlan, Zihuatanejo, and Acapulco, were the most affected.
Subsequent event
On June 3, 2009, the Ministry of Communications and Transportation (SCT), acting through the General Directorate for Civil Aviation (DGAC), temporarily suspended the operation of 25 Aviacsa aircraft after inspections discovered some maintenance deficiencies. According to the official announcement, Aviacsa will have 60 days from the date of the announcement to address the deficiencies; the action taken by the DGAC does not imply the definitive suspension of operations by the airline.
Before the temporary suspension, Aviacsa operated a total of eight routes in four of OMA's 13 airports (Monterrey, Acapulco, Ciudad Juarez, and Tampico). All of Aviacsa's routes are also served by other carriers.
Aviacsa accounted for 7.6% of OMA's total passenger traffic during the January-May 2009 period; 96.5% of passengers were domestic. Aviacsa's share in OMA's passenger traffic has been gradually decreasing, from 14.8% in 2006 to 11.9% in 2007 and 8.1% in 2008.
At the present time, Aviacsa does not have any obligations to OMA.
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.