Record numbers take to the skies

Last year saw a record number of passengers pass through airport lounges and heading into the skies, according to global airports organisation Airports Council International (ACI).

A total of 4.4 billion passengers flew on domestic and international flights during 2006, which represented a 4.8 per cent rise on the previous 12 months.

Beijing lead the way in terms of passenger traffic increases, seeing a 19 per cent rise last year on the corresponding period in 2005 and it moved up to 9th place in terms of the world's busiest airports.

Airport lounges at Beijing were so packed due in no small part to the Olympics taking place in the Chinese capital next year and this coupled with the increasing demand for domestic air travel within China.

ACI's director general Robert J Aaronson stated: "The statistics tell a great story - growth and stability. Three-quarters of airports worldwide reported positive passenger growth. The figures are equally positive in broader economic terms, with traffic closely aligned to world GDP growth of just over five percent in 2006."