The Macao International Airport (MIA) has targeted a 7-percent rise in passenger movement and a 3- percent growth in cargo throughput this year, local media reported on Wednesday.

Macao Post Daily quoted Deng Jun, board chairman of the MIA, as saying that the airport planned to handle 4.55 million passengers and 234,000 metric tons of cargo in 2006, as against 4.25 million and 227,232 respectively in 2005.

The airport, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2005, is also keen to improve its "software and hardware facilities" and attract more airlines this year, Deng told the newspaper.

The MIA is to enhance communication and cooperation with the logistics industry to strengthen the airport's transit cargo business, Deng said.

The figures from the airport management showed that the number of aircraft movements reached 3,933 in January, a year-on-year growth of 11.4 percent, while cargo handling stood at 18,355 metric tons, a 4.1-percent year-on-year rise.

Source: Xinhua