MADRID, Oct 30 Reuters Spanish airport operator Aena said on Wednesday its net profit in the first nine months of the year rose 27 from the same period last year as the postpandemic travel boom pushed passenger traffic to new records.

Aena booked a net profit of 1.44 billion euros 1.56 billion out of revenues rising 16 to 4.39 billion euros. The revenue and profit data were in line with forecasts from analysts polled by LSEG, who expected 4.4 billion euros in revenues and 1.46 billion euros in net profit during the January to September period.

The company reported a record 283 million passengers across its terminals in Spain, Latin America and Britain in the period.

Airlines that use Aena39;s airports in Spain expect traffic to continue to grow in the winter season and believe it can break last year39;s alltime record of passengers.

Southern European airports will outperform their northern counterparts by traffic volume this year, according to analysts consensus, with southern terminals receiving more leisure travellers while northern destinations, which focus on business passengers, will be less busy.

Aena39;s commercial revenues grew 16 in the period, while the flightrelated business incomes rose 15. The sales at dutyfree shops and special services for passengers rose 12, the company said.

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Reporting by Corina Pons; editing by Charlie Devereux and Inti Landauro

Source Reuters