The airport authority, said Prime Minister Denzil Douglas, has indicated that there was a 10% increase in arrivals and a 7% rise in departures for the same period.

The Statistics Department of SCASPA, (St. Christopher Air & Sea Ports Authority), reports 32,914 persons arrived for the second quarter this year, compared to 30,019 persons for the same period last year – an increase of 2,895 or 9.64 percent.

Departures also went up from 31,022 persons in the second quarter of 2010 to 33,367, an increase of 2,345 or up 7.56 percent,” Dr. Douglas said during Tuesday’s edition of his weekly radio call-in programme “Ask the Prime Minister.”

 The increases were registered although there was a 7.58 percent drop in flights in and a decrease of 7.84 percent in flights out during the second quarter.

There were 1,464 flights out in the second quarter of this year compared to 1,582 in the same period last year.

The Bradshaw Airport recorded 1,458 flights in the second quarter of this year compared to 1,582 for the same period in 2010.

Of the 32,914 passengers arriving, American Airlines brought in 14,336; LIAT,

10,198; American Eagle, 3,060; British Airways, 1,673; Delta Air, 1,644 and US Airways, 1,299.

Further increases in arrivals are expected soon as the official tourist season is due to commence in December, in time for the busy Christmas and Carnival season in St. Kitts.