The number of passengers through the Macao International Airport hit 2.37 million in the first eight months of 2004, marking an increase of 32.1 percent as compared with the same period of last year.

According to an executive of the airport, the number of passengers through the Macao International Airport is expected to keep the upward tendency in the fourth quarter of the year, as residents of more and more cities in China's mainland are allowed to make individual trips to Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Hong Kong SAR.

Meanwhile, the number of Macao residents flying to Bangkok and Manila registered a large-margin growth as compared with the same period of last year, respectively at 71 percent and 28 percent.

(eastday.com October 13, 2004)