AoT steady despite slump in June quarter profit, Beijing Airport gains on improved revenue

The steep revenue reduction was attributed to falling traffic brought on by the global recession and the political unrest in the country. AoT reported aeronautical revenue fell 21.7% as flight operations, passenger numbers and cargo volume dropped 11.3%, 14.2% and 23.8%, respectively. The operator of the country's largest international airports was also forced to reduce aeronautical charges in an attempt to promote Thailand's tourism.

Meanwhile, traffic AoT's secondary airports are holding up, according to the latest traffic highlights in Jul-2009:

• Passenger numbers: 4.3 million, -6.3% year-on-year;
  • International: 2.6 million, -12.9%;
  • Domestic: 1.7 million, +5.9%;
    • Bangkok International Airport: 3.3 million, -1.4%;
      • International: 2.4 million, -12.9%;
      • Domestic: 919,434, +51.5%:
    • Don Mueang: 129,107, -65.8%;
    • Chiang Mai: 252,317, -1.9%:
    • Hat Yai: 114,085, +10.2%;
    • Phuket: 432,207, -3.1%;
    • Chiang Rai: 59,727, +28.1%;
  • Cargo volume: 94,569 tonnes, -16.5%;
  • Aircraft movements: 29,449, -1.9%.

Elsewhere in the region, Beijing Capital International Airport ended a mixed week with a 0.4% gain in its share price on Friday, as it reported resilient financial results backed by strong revenue growth for the six months ended 30-Jun-2009.

The rest of China's airport shares continued their recent descent with Shenzhen Airport, Shanghai Airport and Guangzhou Airport falling 5.5%, 5.3% and 4.4%, respectively.

In Europe, Hochtief's shares gained 3.7% as the airport construction group maintains its positive forecast for the full year 2009 and hinted at an IPO of its airport assets. Shares in Ferrovial, Aeroports de Paris and Fraport lost ground on Friday, closing down 2.1%, 2.1% and 0.4%, respectively.

Selected airports daily share price movements (% change): 14-Aug-09

Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & Yahoo! Finance