Malta International Airport's turnover for the six months ended June 31 reached €24.2 million (€22.7 million during same period last year) reflecting the increase in passengers and non-aviation revenue from the subsidiary companies, Sky Parks Business Centre Ltd and Airport Parking Ltd.

The profit for the period is €5.11 million (€4.48 million), an increase of 14.1 per cent.

The group proposed a net interim dividend of 3c per share on all shares settled as at close of business on August 19 and payable by September 23.

The group’s interim financial statement were approved by the board of directors today.

Revenue from the airport segment compared to total revenue decreased from 71.9 to 69.8 per cent; while that from the retail and property segment increased from 27 to 29.5 per cent.

Staff costs increased from €3.7 million to €3.9 million, largely due to contractual collective agreements and a staff early retirement scheme carried out in the first quarter of this year.

Both operating and depreciation costs increased to reflect the additional commercial activity generated by Skyparks Business Centre. In the first six months of 2012, Skyparks Business Centre was not operational.

Passenger movements in the first six months increased by 9.2 per cent over the corresponding period last year, reaching 1.73 million passengers (2012 - 1.58 million). This growth was driven by a 7.6 per cent increase in capacity coupled with a one percentage point increase in seat load factor.

Traffic exceeded the group’s forecast for the period partly due to the additional capacity that was brought on by the introduction of five new carriers as well as by the strong load factors from all carriers during the period.

Taking into account these traffic results for the first six months of the year and the revised schedule of traffic for the rest of the year, the group revised its forecast for the this year from 3.63 million passenger movements to 3.89 million. This is 6.7 per cent more than in 2012.