Sydney Airport on Wednesday reported a record number of 39.7 million travellers had passed through its three terminals in 2015, up three per cent on 38.5 million a year earlier.

International passengers were up 4.3 per cent at 13.7 million, while the domestic market rose 2.3 per cent to 25.9 million, according to figures released by Sydney Airport.

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A handful of airlines started operating at Sydney Airport, including American Airlines and Hainan Airlines.

On December 19, American Airlines touched down at Sydney Airport for the first time in 23 years, Sydney Airport chief executive Kerrie Mather said.

“The US is the most popular destination for Sydneysiders and this expanded partnership will increase capacity between Sydney and the US by 25 per cent, or 225,000 seats, annually,” Mrs Mather said.

Melbourne Airport posted a four per cent increase in passenger numbers to 33 million in 2015, from 31.7 million a year ago.

The airport posted particularly strong international passenger growth of nine per cent to 8.7 million-plus in 2015, from 8.1 million.

North Asia led international growth in 2015 with China the standout market, growing by more than 25 per cent, according to Melbourne Airport figures.

Melbourne Airports’s domestic passengers increased by three per cent to 24.2 million.

Several airlines started operating at Melbourne Airport in 2015, including Scoot Airlines, China Airlines and Indonesia Air Asia X.

Qantas, United Airlines, Jetstar, Air China and Etihad Airways also added services to Melbourne during the year.

In other news Singapore Airlines will operate regular international flights out of Canberra airport from September, the company has announced, confirming rumours circulating for weeks.

The flights will make Canberra a stopover point on trips between Singapore and Wellington in New Zealand, and will operate four times a week.

“This new service linking Singapore, Canberra and Wellington reflects the close ties between the three countries,” Singapore Airlines chief executive Goh Choon Pong said.

With ABC