Mexican airport operator hit by swine flu scare

Mexican airport operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SA de CV said Wednesday passenger traffic has declined since the outbreak of swine flu but it was too early to determine the financial effect on the company.

Asur, which operates Cancun Airport and eight others in southeast Mexico, did not give figures for the traffic downturn.

"Between April 26 and April 28, 2009, there has been a decline in the passenger traffic levels from those observed before the Mexican Secretary of Health confirmed the presence of Swine Flu," the airport company said in a statement. Asur said it couldn't predict how long it will take to return to normal conditions.

Last week, Mexico's health minister confirmed deaths from swine flu, and cases were confirmed in the United States. On April 27, the World Health Organization raised its pandemic alert status to Phase 4, warning of sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus.

U.S. officials have advised Americans against most travel to Mexico; Cuba and Argentina suspended flights to and from Mexico, and European officials cautioned their citizens against nonessential travel to Mexico and the United States.

U.S.-traded shares of Asur rose 54 cents to $31.98. They fell 14 percent on the first reports of swine flu earlier this month.