INCREASED passenger levels at the MBJ Airports in Montego Bay saved its parent Abertis Airports from reducing its nine-month operating profit, which was up one per cent from year-earlier levels to 64 million, according to just-released financials.

The group specifically credited the local operations which manages Sangster International Airport for growing passenger traffic between January to September despite declines at its other airports over the period. Abertis is also a nominee for this year’s Business Leader Awards hosted by the Jamaica Observer.

“At the airports business (seven per cent of total revenue) revenue advanced 3.2 per cent to ¤211 million, despite the fall in passenger numbers at TBI, thanks to the increase in revenue per passenger, a strong traffic performance from MBJ and favourable exchange rate effects,” stated the Spain-based Abertis Group in its financials about its airport’s division which has stakes in 30 airports in nine countries, with a worldwide traffic level exceeding 80 million passengers annually.

Abertis Airports saw its total passenger number increase 8.7 per cent “mainly linked to MBJ’s airport in Jamaica-a strong performance due, among other factors, to the increase in passenger numbers and fees”.

The precise number of arrivals from MBJ Airports was not disclosed, however, Jamaica Tourism Board (JTB) data indicated that air travellers, which stayed in Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril between January to August 2010 increased 10 per cent to 415,000; 2.2 per cent to 311,600 and 5.0 per cent to 304,000, respectively, year-on-year. Travellers who stayed in these three resort centres would have likely entered the island via Sangster International. Comparatively travellers who used the other international airport in Kingston declined five per cent year on year.

Since 2003 MBJ Airport underwent a US$200-million expansion and modernisation financed by Abertis. Abertis controls 75 per cent of the MBJ Airports with Vancouver Airport Services controlling the remainder. Roughly 3.4 million passengers will pass through Sangster International Airport this year.

Abertis which operates telecoms, toll roads, car parks, logistics and airports is the ultimate parent of Abertis Airports. Spain still earns half of the conglomerate’s revenues, France at 35 per cent, Chile at 5.0 per cent, the UK at 4.0 per cent and TBI and other countries (mainly Puerto Rico, Argentina, Colombia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Sweden, Bolivia, the US and Portugal) with 6.0 per cent.