Mexican airport operator Asur posted a 53 percent rise in first-quarter net profit on Tuesday, aided by higher revenue from a healthy increase in passenger traffic.

Asur said its January-March net profit was MXP352 million pesos (USD$33 million), up from MXP230 million a year earlier.

Revenue increased 24 percent to MXP870 million as passenger traffic moved up 18 percent, with domestic traffic up 27 percent.

Asur operates nine airports in southern Mexico. Its key airport is at the Caribbean beach resort of Cancun, where international passenger traffic rose 13 percent and domestic travel was up 30 percent.

Easter and Holy Week, a major vacation period in Mexico, fell in the first quarter this year and contributed to increased passenger numbers.