France's airline traffic increased by 5.8 percent in the first six months of 2005, compared with the same period last year, driven mainly by a sharp rise in international travel, French civilian aviation authority DGAC said Wednesday in a statement.

From January to June, international traffic rose 7.8 percent year-on-year, with growth surpassing 13 percent for three travel destinations: Maghreb countries (North Africa), European countries that outside the European Union (EU) and the Middle East.

Meanwhile France's domestic traffic remained morose, with the stagnation of mainland traffic up by just 0.5 percent and a fall of 1 percent between mainland and its overseas departments.

International traffic continued its considerable growth in June, with an increase of 8.5 percent. Passenger travel growth surpassed 17.5 percent in destinations in the Middle East and North Africa and reached almost 12 percent in Latin America and European countries that are not EU members.

Meanwhile, France's domestic traffic in June was up 1.8 percent, according to DGAC.

Source: Xinhua