GUADALAJARA,
Mexico,
Jan. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Grupo Aeroportuario
del Pacifico, S.A. de C.V. (NYSE: PAC) (BMV: GAP) ("the Company" or "GAP")
today announced terminal passenger traffic figures for the month of
December
2006 compared to traffic figures for
December 2005.
During December 2006, total terminal passengers increased 8.9% compared to
December 2005, driven by domestic passenger traffic, which grew 18.5%. It is
important to note that the traffic volume for the month of December 2006 is
the Company's new monthly historic high, thus surpassing the previous high
recorded in July 2006.
Compared to December 2005, domestic terminal traffic registered a net
increase of approximately 193.2 thousand passengers, mainly driven by
passenger traffic growth at the Los Mochis, La Paz, Guadalajara, Tijuana,
Bajio, Aguascalientes, Hermosillo, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos airports.
The airports with the most notable increases were Los Mochis with
10.1 thousand passengers, La Paz with 16.1 thousand passengers, Guadalajara
with 85.3 thousand passengers, Tijuana with 69.3 thousand passengers, Bajio
with 11 thousand passengers, Aguascalientes with 1.4 thousand passengers,
Hermosillo with 4.6 thousand passengers, Puerto Vallarta with 2.7 thousand
passengers and Los Cabos with 2.2 thousand passengers (representing a total
increase in domestic passengers at these airports of approximately
202.7 thousand passengers in December 2006, compared to December 2005). In the
cases of Guadalajara, Bajio, Hermosillo, Los Mochis, La Paz, Puerto Vallarta
and Tijuana, these increases continue to be largely attributable to the routes
operated by the low-cost carrier airlines (LCC's) such as Interjet, Volaris,
Alma, Click, VivaAerobus and Avolar.
It is important to mention that new routes were established such as:
Guadalajara-Queretaro-Monterrey (Alma), Tijuana-Los Mochis-Chihuahua (Alma),
Guadalajara-Los Mochis-Chihuahua (Alma), Guadalajara-Morelia (Avolar) and
Guadalajara-Queretaro (Avolar).
Furthermore, the Los Mochis and La Paz airports experienced growth in
domestic passenger traffic of 63.4% and 48.7%, respectively, thus maintaining
the traffic recovery following the decline experienced at the beginning of the
second quarter of 2006 due to the suspension of Aerocalifornia's operations.
These increases were due to the traffic from low-cost carriers, Avolar and
Alma, as well as the re-initiation of Aerocalifornia's operations.
At the same time, GAP experienced declines in domestic terminal passenger
traffic at the airports of Morelia of 5.6 thousand passengers, Manzanillo of
1.4 thousand passengers and Mexicali of 2.4 thousand passengers, representing
a total decrease of approximately 9.4 thousand domestic passengers compared to
December 2005.
International terminal passenger traffic during December 2006 experienced
a net decrease of 32.5 thousand passengers. However, it is important to note
the growth at the Tijuana airport of 0.9 thousand passengers, La Paz with 1.6
thousand passengers, Mexicali with 0.1 thousand passengers, Aguascalientes
with 0.8 thousand passengers and Bajio with 2.8 thousand passengers,
representing a total increase of 6.2 thousand international passengers at
these airports compared to December 2005.
Decreases in international terminal passenger traffic at the Guadalajara
and Morelia airports likely were caused by the effect of substitutions as
several of the LCC's have increased the number of frequencies to and from
Tijuana. This resulted in numerous passengers choosing to fly to the U.S. via
Tijuana due to lower fares, therefore decreasing traffic on flights to and
from California.
Decreases in international terminal passenger traffic at the Hermosillo
and Manzanillo airports resulted from the suspension of operations of
Aerocalifornia, which included the Hermosillo-Los Angeles and Manzanillo-Los
Angeles routes. Despite the limited resumption of Aerocalifornia's operations,
these routes remain without service.
It is important to mention that the decreases in international traffic at
the Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta airports were due to the effect of Hurricane
Wilma that took place in 2005. In 2005, these destinations experienced higher
passenger traffic due to the effects of the hurricane, which caused damages to
other tourist destinations and airports located in Gulf of Mexico region and
thus drove passenger traffic to GAP's regions.
Low-Cost Carriers
At the close of December 2006, the weekly schedule of flights operated by
LCCs increased by 77 weekly segments compared to December 2005. As a result,
GAP's airports currently have a total of 587 segments, totaling 38 routes
operated by this type of carrier.
In December, a total of approximately 354 thousand passengers were
transported by LCCs, representing 28.67% of domestic passenger traffic for the
month.
Currently, LCC's operate at nine out of the Company's twelve airports.
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 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 conditions, 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.
In accordance with Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and
article 42 of the "Ley del Mercado de Valores", GAP has implemented a
"whistleblower" program, which allows complainants to anonymously and
confidentially report suspected activities that may involve criminal conduct
or violations. The telephone number in Mexico, facilitated by a third party
that is in charge of collecting these complaints, is 800-759-0045. GAP's Audit
Committee will be notified of all complaints for immediate investigation.
In Mexico, Rodrigo Guzman, Chief Financial Officer, or Miguel Aliaga,
Investor Relations Officer, both of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, +011-01-
333-8801100, ext. 212 or 241, or maliagag@aeropuertosgap.com.mx; In the U.S.,
Maria Barona or Peter Majeski, both of i-advize Corporate Communications, +1-
212-406-3690, or gap@i-advize.com, for Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico /
For more information, please visit www.aeropuertosgap.com.mx or contact:
In Mexico
Rodrigo Guzman, Chief Financial Officer
Miguel Aliaga, Investor Relations Officer
Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A. de C.V.
Tel: 01 (333) 8801100, ext. 212 / 216
maliagag@aeropuertosgap.com.mx
In the U.S.
Maria Barona
Peter Majeski
i-advize Corporate Communications
Tel: 212-406-3690
gap@i-advize.com
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