A RECORD number of international and domestic passengers passed through Perth Airport in the last financial year, according to recent figures. Over the past 12 months, international passengers were up 12 per cent to just under two million, while domestic passenger numbers for the same period grew by 9.5 per cent to 4.7 million. According to Westralia Airports Corporation chief executive Graham Muir, December 2004 holds the record for the most passengers through the international terminal, with 191,000 passengers in that month, with October 2004 the record month for domestic passengers at more than 427,000. Increased services by Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand, Qantas and Garuda Indonesia, plus the introduction of new airlines Valuair and Australian Airlines meant travellers benefited from the increased competition and additional choice, Mr Muir said. But while the increased numbers have buoyed tourism operators, there is further demand for increased air capacity and accom-modation in Western Australia’s tourism sector, according to Tourism Council president Ron Buckey.