Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) managed airports have recorded higher passenger and aircraft traffic in the first quarter of 2009 in comparison with figures for the same period in 2008.

The latest figure which covers January and June shows a 17.2 per cent growth as against the same period in 2008. Statistical report shows that passenger figure at the 21 FAAN controlled airport stands at 5,777,598 as against the 2008 figure of 4, 930,509.

Aircraft traffic figure also shows an increase of 12.3 per cent growth, rising to 107,320 movements in the same period of 95,575 last year.

Aircraft traffic on domestic route for the first and second quarters of 2009 also showed a considerable growth of 16.3 per cent rising to 92,369 from 79, 434 movements by the same time in 2008.

On the international route, passenger traffic figure also shows that there was growth during the same period, with a 12.1 per cent increase when compared with the figure in the corresponding period of last year.

The airport managers also reported a negative growth in the international aircraft traffic as a result of airlines using bigger aircraft for their flights despite the fact that passenger traffic during the same period witnessed a considerable increase.