Sharjah airport passenger numbers up 2% in Q1 2017

dubai - 2.74 million passengers passed through Sharjah International Airport in first quarter of 2017

Sharjah International Airport achieved a growth of two per cent in passenger traffic during the first quarter of 2017. The total number of passengers that passed through Sharjah International Airport in the first quarter of 2017 grew to 2.741 million, up from 2.687 million passengers during the corresponding period in 2016.

Aircraft movements increased to 18,569 in Q1, 2017, a 2.85 per cent growth as compared with the 18,054 recorded in the first quarter of 2016.

Ali Salim Al Midfa, chairman of the Sharjah Airport Authority, said: "The figures from Q1 2017 show the sheer scale of growth and activity being recorded in the emirate of Sharjah with regard to both tourist traffic and business activity. The indicators bode well for more growth by the airport ahead of the year end."

Al Midfa added: "The increase in passenger traffic in the first quarter of the year was driven by the growth in the number of passengers in January, during which the airport handled 969.633 passengers, a 4.31 per cent growth compared with the figures for the same period in 2016. The airport served 827,369 and 944,038 passengers in February and March respectively."

Al Midfa added that the aircraft movements in January increased by 5.07 per cent to 6,487 movements, and reached 5,622 and 6,460 movements in February and March respectively.

Al Midfa added: "The growth rate was achieved by the airport to cater to a similar growth in the travel and tourism industry in the emirate and the UAE. This will help achieve Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, which aims to attract more than 10 million tourists by 2021."

The Sharjah Airport Authority expects more growth as the airport attracts new airlines. In addition, current airlines continue to expand, adding new destinations.

- business@khaleejtimes.com