February 4 2019  |  Airlines & Airports

Sharjah Airport serves 12 million passengers in 2018

By Hibah Noor

Sharjah Airport has recorded a 6% upswing in the number of passengers handled in 2018.

The airport welcomed over 12.04 million passengers last year.

The number of scheduled and unscheduled flights increased by 4.7% in 2018, with more than 81,260 flights last year.

The highest number of passengers handled 1.211 million was recorded in August, and the airport recorded the highest growth rate - 13.3% - in June.

In terms of aircraft movements, the number of flights peaked in August with 7,708 trips, while the highest growth rate - 10.39% - was recorded in July.

HE Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, said: “We are pleased with Sharjah Airport’s achievements last year; these are the results of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and of His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Executive Council, who follows up on the airport’s plans and strategies, which are in line with developments in the domestic and international aviation sectors and travel markets.”

His Excellency explained that the airport’s management were always exploring opportunities to enhance the airport’s capacity, to keep pace with the expansion and to fulfil the needs of different market sectors.

H.E. Sheikh Faisal Bin Saud Al Qasimi, Director of Sharjah Airport Authority, emphasized that Sharjah’s unique position as an economic, commercial, tourism and cultural centre was the foundation for the airport’s successes in 2018.

He said that the airport would continue to develop and grow, upgrading its services and implementing ongoing plans for development.

During 2018, Sharjah Airport’s duty free area reopened after an upgrade. With a new total area of 1,800 square meters, the space has attracted new international brands, adding to the existing stores. The upgrade was part of an effort to diversify the airport’s services and products.

Sharjah Airport is set to be expanded. The exterior will be shaped like the wing of a plane, ending in a structure shaped like a book, inspired by Sharjah as the Cultural Capital.

The project will include two departure halls and two passport control areas to maintain the flow of passengers.

It is expected that the support services buildings will be completed in the first quarter of 2020, while the project will be finished in the third quarter of 2022.

The airport’s capacity is forecast to rise to 20 million passengers by 2025.

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