Double-digit growth in passenger numbers and cargo volumes lifted half-year earnings at Beijing Capital International Airport, one of Asia's busiest.

The airport operator said international, Hong Kong and Macau traffic volume growth exceeded the rate of growth on domestic routes.

Net profit for the six months to June was 566.7 million yuan, up 2.07 percent compared with 555 million yuan last year. Earnings per share was 0.14 yuan. It declared an interim dividend of 0.041 yuan per share.

The airport, which is being upgraded for the Olympics, is served by 70 airlines, including 17 domestic and 50 foreign airlines. Flights overall increased 12 percent to 201,510.

Revenue surged 16 percent to 1.66 billion yuan from 1.43 billion yuan in the same period last year.

Aviation-related revenue, net of business tax and levies, increased 12.77 percent to 1.19 billion yuan. Revenue from this segment includes aircraft movement fees and related charges which grew 12.32 percent to 478.7 million yuan, while passenger charges rose 13.25 percent to 393 million yuan.

Airport fees climbed 13.84 percent to 354 million yuan. While passenger numbers and freight handled at the airport maintained double-digit growth, domestic freight throughput fell 6.4 percent to 273,000 tonnes.

But those for international, Hong Kong and Macau jumped 61.9 percent to 223,000 tonnes. Non aviation-related revenue grew 25.62 percent to 410.5 million yuan, including a 36 percent increase in concessions to 282.5 million yuan. Retailing and advertising revenue surged 41 percent and 45 percent to 128 million yuan and 112 million yuan respectively.

Meanwhile, operating expenses surged 22.04 percent to 747 million yuan.

Chairman of Beijing Airport Wang Jiadong expects more growth in air traffic volumes.