Prague Airport traffic up 7.5 pct in 2006

...high of 11.58 million people, the firm said on Tuesday.

The airport opened a new terminal last year, which increased its costs by 1.3 billion crowns ($61 million) per year, said Chief Executive Hana Cernochova.

Bbut it still expects to exceed its full year pre-tax profit target of 1 billion crowns ($46.64 million), Cernochova said.

The airport said total takeoffs and landings increased by 4 percent to 166,346 last year.

Passenger growth is expected to continue this year to 12.2 million.

Officials in the new centre-right government have said the sale of the airport should take place in the second half of 2007 at the earliest.

[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]