Traffic at Sydney Airport increased 6.1% in the month of October from the previous corresponding period, however the European peers in MAP Group's portfolio reported a decline in traffic proving that the economic recovery in Europe still has a long way to go.

Growth was driven by large increase in North American tourists, with 49% more Canadians arriving and a 36% jump in Americans from October 2008.

There were also 27% more Chinese arriving, while in the negative there was almost a one-quarter decline in the number of Koreans coming to Australia.

Sydney Airport traffic also saw growth 3.6% on domestic traffic.

Despite this, CEO Kerrie Mather said that all airports had posted their best results for the calendar year.

“For the third month in a row, Sydney traffic grew strongly in both international and domestic segments, with international traffic up 12.5%, helped in part by the school holidays and World Masters Games, and at Copenhagen O&D traffic was also ahead of last year,” Ms Mather said.

Improvements in the performance of Sydney Airport was helped by increased capacity on the Pacific route and the Emirates bringing in another flight from Dubai.

In Europe, declines in traffic was reported at Copenhagen, down 2.7%. Brussels and Bristol Airport was down 5.8% and 1% respectively.

At 1135 AEDT, Macquarie Airports shares were down 4c to $2.77.