OMA Reports October 2009 Traffic

November 9, 2009 8:45 AM EST

MONTERREY, Mexico, Nov. 9, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mexican airport operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte, S.A.B. de C.V., known as OMA (Nasdaq: OMAB) (BMV:OMA), reports that terminal passenger traffic at its 13 airports decreased 12.4% in October 2009, as compared to October 2008. Domestic traffic decreased 11.6%, and international traffic decreased 17.0%.

Of total traffic, 97.5% was commercial aviation, and 2.5% was general aviation.

                        Total Passengers*
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                                   Change   Jan-Oct    Jan-Oct  Change
 (Thousand)      Oct-08   Oct-09      %      2008       2009       %

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 Domestic        898,388  793,869  (11.6)  9,973,434  8,144,379  (18.3)
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 International   140,260  116,471  (17.0)  1,985,308  1,490,788  (24.9)
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 OMA Total     1,038,648  910,340  (12.4) 11,958,742  9,635,167  (19.4)
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 * Terminal passengers: includes passengers on the three types of
   aviation (commercial, charter, and  general aviation), and excludes
   passengers in transit.

Domestic traffic grew at the Culiacan, Durango, and Mazatlan airports by 14.8%, 7.7%, and 7.0%, respectively. The performance of VivaAerobus, Aeromar, and Grupo Aeromexico were noteworthy. VivaAerobus opened the Mazatlan-La Paz route on October 1 and Reynosa-Veracruz on October 2. Aeromar opened the Monterrey-San Luis Potosi route on October 5. These factors were offset by the suspension of Aviacsa (suspended since July 6, 2009), the departure from the markets of Alma and Aladia, and a reduction in traffic on Interjet and Magnicharter. The Monterrey, Acapulco, and Ciudad Juarez airports had the largest traffic reductions.

International traffic decreased principally because of the cancellation of international routes by Continental, Grupo Aeromexico, and Alaska Airlines, in addition to the suspension of Aviacsa. The Monterrey, Mazatlan, Acapulco, and San Luis Potosi airports were the most affected. On the other hand, international traffic at Zacatecas increased 22.6% as a result of growth on traffic on the Chicago, Oakland, and Los Angeles routes.

The total number of flight operations (takeoffs and landings) in October 2009 decreased 8.6% as compared to October 2008.

The complete traffic report is available at http://ir.oma.aero.

This press release may contain forward-looking information and statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "target," or similar expressions. While OMA's management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of OMA, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed in our most recent annual report filed on Form 20-F under the caption "Risk Factors." OMA undertakes no obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

About OMA

Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte, S.A.B. de C.V., known as OMA, operates 13 international airports in nine states of central and northern Mexico. OMA's airports serve Monterrey, Mexico's third largest metropolitan area, the tourist destinations of Acapulco, Mazatlan, and Zihuatanejo, and nine other regional centers and border cities. OMA employs over 950 persons in order to offer passengers and clients, airport and commercial services in facilities that comply with all applicable international safety, security standards, and ISO 9001:2000. OMA's strategic shareholder members are ICA, Mexico's largest engineering, procurement, and construction company, and Aeroports de Paris Management, subsidiary of Aeroports de Paris, the second largest European airports operator. OMA is listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange (OMA) and on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (OMAB). Please visit our website, www.oma.aero.

CONTACT:  Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte
          Jose Luis Guerrero Cortes, CFO
          +52.81.8625.4300 ext.308
          vbravo@oma.aero

          Zemi Communications
          Daniel Wilson
          +1.212.689.9560
          dbmwilson@zemi.com

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