Mexican duty-free revenues surge despite slump
Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR), the privatised Mexican airport group, has announced duty-free sales increased by over 89% in the second quarter ended June 30 2002. Total commercial revenues also improved year-on-year by 58%, mainly due to the opening of Aldeasa's additional duty-free stores in Cancun and Merida airports in the final quarter of last year and in Cozumel during the first quarter this year. The result came despite a decline of 8.1% in passenger traffic across the nine airports in the southeast region. Total revenues and operating profit dropped due to lower aeronautical income.
Total passenger traffic decreased year-over-year at all ASUR airports, with the decline highest at 23% in the resort airport of Cozumel which relies heavily on US tourists. In a trading statement ASUR said the traffic trend improved slightly for the second quarter, and total passenger volumes decreased year-on-year by 7.4%. International passenger volumes declined by 9.3% in the same period.
