GUADALAJARA, Mexico, June 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A. de C.V. (BMV: GAP) ("the Company" or "GAP") today announced terminal passenger traffic figures for the month of May 2006.
During the month of May 2006, terminal passenger traffic increased 4.4% compared to May 2005, driven by international passenger traffic, which grew 12.2%, while domestic passenger traffic remained nearly flat.
As compared to May 2005, domestic traffic in May 2006 decreased by 0.2%, or 2 thousand terminal passengers due to declines in 9 of the 12 airports. These were offset by increases of 46.1% in Los Cabos, 9.7% in Puerto Vallarta and 8.3% in Guadalajara (with a total increase of 44 thousand passengers at these airports). The increase in Guadalajara was driven by an increase in traffic among the low cost carriers (Interjet, Volaris, Click and Avolar), while in Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta, the increase reflects the popularity of these tourist destinations.
The decrease in the number of domestic terminal passengers was mainly the result of declines of 9.2 thousand passengers in La Paz, 9.3 thousand passengers in Hermosillo, 6.6 thousand passengers in Bajio, 5.5 thousand passengers in Los Mochis, 5.4 thousand passengers in Morelia, 5.2 thousand passengers in Tijuana and 4.6 thousand in Mexicali (for a total decline of 46.2 thousand domestic passengers, including Manzanillo and Aguascalientes compared to May of 2005). In the case of La Paz, Tijuana, Los Mochis, Bajio and Hermosillo this was mainly due to the cancellation of routes that were operated by Aerocalifornia.
It is anticipated that some of the routes, including Guadalajara-La Paz, Tijuana-Los Mochis, Guadalajara-Los Mochis and Bajio-Tijuana will resume as a result of the service offered by various other airlines beginning in June 2006.
In terms of international passenger traffic, the most significant increase occurred in the Los Cabos airport (25.2 thousand passengers, representing a 15.2% increase compared to the previous year), Puerto Vallarta (22 thousand passengers, representing a 15.5% increase compared to the previous year) and Guadalajara (20.7 thousand passengers, representing an increase of 12.1%, compared to the previous year). The growth in Guadalajara was a result of the increase in the routes to and from Los Angeles, California, while in Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos the traffic was in line with the growth driven mainly by U.S. and Canadian tourists.
The decline in international passenger traffic in the airports of La Paz, Hermosillo and Manzanillo was a result of the cancellation in the La Paz-Los Angeles, Hermosillo-Los Angeles and Manzanillo-Los Angeles routes, which were operated by Aerocalifornia, the first of which was an exclusive route of this carrier.
Domestic Terminal Passengers (in thousands):
Jan-May Jan-May
Airport May-05 May-06 %Var 05 06 %Var
Guadalajara 295.3 319.9 8.3% 1,409.9 1,526.9 8.3%
Tijuana 278.2 273.0 -1.8% 1,364.6 1,400.2 2.6%
Puerto
Vallarta 50.9 55.9 9.7% 210.2 252.3 20.0%
Los Cabos 31.6 46.1 46.1% 134.1 210.3 56.8%
Hermosillo 97.7 88.4 -9.5% 473.6 457.9 -3.3%
Bajio 53.2 46.6 -12.4% 259.5 243.6 -6.1%
Morelia 28.6 23.2 -18.9% 148.3 126.2 -14.9%
Mexicali 45.4 40.8 -10.2% 226.7 212.2 -6.4%
La Paz 34.2 25.0 -26.9% 165.7 154.8 -6.6%
Aguascalientes 23.0 22.9 -0.2% 100.9 107.9 7.0%
Manzanillo 10.4 9.9 -4.5% 43.1 52.6 21.9%
Los Mochis 16.5 11.0 -33.2% 80.3 69.4 -13.5%
Total 964.9 962.9 -0.2% 4,617.0 4,814.4 4.3%
International Terminal Passengers (in thousands):
Airport May-05 May-06 %Var Jan-May Jan-May
05 06 %Var
Guadalajara 170.5 191.2 12.1% 820.0 975.2 18.9%
Tijuana 1.0 1.2 21.0% 4.4 5.4 21.7%
Puerto
Vallarta 141.6 163.6 15.5% 1,104.4 1,248.2 13.0%
Los Cabos 165.8 191.0 15.2% 885.5 1,042.7 17.7%
Hermosillo 9.8 8.6 -12.2% 50.9 45.2 -11.0%
Bajio 35.0 36.6 4.6% 182.0 200.3 10.0%
Morelia 22.7 22.2 -2.2% 119.9 124.8 4.1%
Mexicali 0.3 0.3 22.1% 1.0 1.6 62.0%
La Paz 3.1 1.5 -50.8% 17.3 15.0 -13.1%
Aguascalientes 9.5 12.4 30.7% 45.4 49.3 8.6%
Manzanillo 4.9 4.6 -7.2% 75.2 79.3 5.4%
Los Mochis 0.8 0.5 -37.4% 4.8 3.6 -23.4%
Total 564.9 633.7 12.2% 3,310.7 3,790.5 14.5%
Total Terminal Passengers (in thousands):
Airport May-05 May-06 %Var Jan-May Jan-May
05 06 %Var
Guadalajara 465.7 511.0 9.7% 2,230.0 2,502.1 12.2%
Tijuana 279.1 274.2 -1.8% 1,369.0 1,405.6 2.7%
Puerto
Vallarta 192.5 219.5 14.0% 1,314.6 1,500.5 14.1%
Los Cabos 197.4 237.1 20.1% 1,019.6 1,253.0 22.9%
Hermosillo 107.6 97.1 -9.7% 524.4 503.2 -4.1%
Bajio 88.1 83.2 -5.6% 441.5 443.9 0.5%
Morelia 51.4 45.5 -11.5% 268.3 251.0 -6.4%
Mexicali 45.7 41.1 -10.0% 227.7 213.8 -6.1%
La Paz 37.3 26.5 -28.9% 183.0 169.8 -7.2%
Aguascalientes 32.5 35.3 8.9% 146.3 157.2 7.5%
Manzanillo 15.3 14.5 -5.4% 118.4 131.9 11.4%
Los Mochis 17.3 11.5 -33.4% 85.0 73.1 -14.0%
Total 1,529.8 1,596.5 -0.2% 7,927.7 8,604.9 8.5%
Low-Cost Carriers
At the close of May 2006, the weekly schedule operated by low-cost carriers represented an increase of 9 new frequencies compared to April 2006, for a total of 185 departure frequencies. Also during May 2006, low-cost carriers initiated 3 new routes, for a total of 17 routes operated by these airlines.
During the first five months of 2006, a total of 378 thousand passengers were served by low-cost carriers, representing 7.9% of the total number of domestic passengers for that period.
Company Description:
Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A. de C.V. (GAP) operates twelve airports throughout Mexico's Pacific region, including the major cities of Guadalajara and Tijuana, the four tourist destinations of Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, La Paz and Manzanillo, and six other mid-sized cities: Hermosillo, Bajio, Morelia, Aguascalientes, Mexicali and Los Mochis. In February 2006, GAP's shares were listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "PAC" and on the Mexican Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "GAP".
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts, and are based on management's current view and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. The words "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "plans" and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward- looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will actually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.
For more information please visit http://www.aeropuertosgap.com.mx/ or contact:
In Mexico In the U.S.
Rodrigo Guzman, Chief Financial Officer Maria Barona
Miguel Aliaga, Investor Relations Officer Peter Majeski
Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A. de C.V. i-advize Corporate
Tel: 01 (333) 8801100, ext. 212 or 241 Communications, Inc.
