Australia-based airports investment group Macquarie Airports (MAp) has posted a net loss of A$299 million ($248 million) for the six months ending 30 June.
This is A$25 million higher than the A$274 million it lost a year before, MAp says in an Australian Stock Exchange filing.
Revenue fell 54% to A$542 million from A$1.18 billion, in line with the global trend of airports experiencing falls in passenger traffic.
"While the external environment has been challenging for the first half of 2009, we are seeing moderation in traffic performance, particularly at our European airports," says MAp CEO Kerrie Mather.
The company has stakes in Bristol, Brussels, Copenhagen and Sydney airports.
"Sydney Airport, which now makes up more than 60% of our asset portfolio, has proved to be highly resilient with earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation up 2% for the six months to 30 June," she adds
"The airport has continued to attract new airlines and routes with Air Austral, V Australia, Delta Air Lines and Tiger Airways all launching services in 2009."
In the yearly outlook, MAp says "early signs of traffic recovery are evident but European traffic is still expected to show a full-year decline."
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
