ASUR duty-free revenues surge despite slump

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Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR), the privatized 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.

In the same period food and beverage sales rose by 141%, also because of new openings in Cancun, Cozumel and Merida. A second Mexican crafts store opened in Merida airport last month. In May the remaining area originally set aside for the Cinco Soles handicrafts store was opened at Cancun airport.

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.