Airports record high passenger numbers

A record number of international travellers passed through Sydney Airport while overseas passengers also helped lift traffic at Brisbane and Melbourne airports.

Sydney Airport said on Monday that international traffic in January hit a monthly record of 1.17 million passengers, up 2.3 per cent from the same month in 2011.

Melbourne Airport said Chinese New Year celebrations were behind a 5.8 per cent lift in international passengers to 667,535 in January.

"Chinese New Year is a significant celebration and people made the most of the holiday with passport holders from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan all increasing by more than 20 per cent," Melbourne Airport chief executive Chris Woodruff said in a statement.

Brisbane Airport said its monthly international passenger numbers eclipsed 400,000 for the third time in the past seven months in January, having risen 6.7 per cent to 414,370 from the same month a year before.

Sydney Airport chief executive Kerrie Mather said the steady growth in international passenger numbers over the second half of 2011 continued into the new year.

"Capacity increases remain the key growth driver for the airport, with significant growth derived from service enhancements such as Emirates' third daily service to Dubai and Qantas's introduction of A380 flights to Hong Kong," Ms Mather said in a statement.

Sydney and Melbourne airports reported a decline in domestic passenger numbers for January, but they were up 12.1 per cent in Brisbane.

Sydney Airport closed up three cents at $2.67. The company was due to release its full year results on February 23.

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