A surge in Chinese visitors has again helped Melbourne and Sydney airports to boost the total number of international passing through their terminals in the lead up to the busiest travel period of the year.
Australia's two largest airports are relying on international passengers, particularly the Chinese, to help offset slower growth in domestic passengers as Qantas and Virgin Australia curb capacity in the local market.
Sydney Airport reported on Friday a 2.2 per cent rise in international passengers in November to 1.07 million, compared with the same month last year. Domestic passengers rose 1.3 per cent to 2.17 million.
The airport's total number of passengers rose 1.5 per cent in November.
Shares in Sydney Airport rose 7c to an all-time high of $4.78 in early trading on Friday.
Chinese visitors soared almost 25 per cent in November, while the number of Filipino tourists rose almost 22 per cent in the wake of Philippines airlines Cebu Pacific launching services to Sydney.
So far this year, Chinese visitors passing through Sydney Airport have increased 16 per cent.
International passengers are more than twice as valuable to airports as domestic passengers because they stay longer and spend more in duty-free shops.
The Chinese airlines are also increasing the frequency of services for the peak travel season. Qantas' alliance partner, China Eastern, will double its daily services between Sydney and Shanghai, while Guangzhou-based China Southern is replacing A330 aircraft with A380 superjumbos.
China overtook the UK in 2013 as the second-largest contributor of visitors to Australia after New Zealand. Importantly, Chinese tourists are the biggest spenders of any foreign visitors, averaging $7418 per capita per trip, according to IBIS World.
Melbourne Airport outpaced its northern rival in both an increase in the number of international and domestic passengers in November, rising by 9 per cent and 2.3 per cent respectively.
Chinese visitors passing through Melbourne Airport increased by a third in November.
The unlisted airport has experienced a surge in Japanese visitors since Jetstar began direct services between the city and Tokyo's Narita Airport earlier this year. Japanese tourists increased almost 80 per cent in November.
Melbourne Airport chief executive Chris Woodruff said international passengers reached the milestone of 8 million in a 12-month period for the first time during the month.
Mr Woodruff announced earlier this month that he will step down as CEO by the middle of next year.
The traffic figures come a day after Flight Centre warned that its full-year earnings could fall as much as 4 per cent as weak consumer sentiment in Australia forces agents to discount ticket prices in order to stimulate demand.
Flight Centre said inquiry levels had been strong but consumers lack the confidence to finalise bookings.
