Saturday 3 August 2019

UAE: Sharjah International Airport Passengers Shoot Up

Sharjah Airport continued to record double-digit growth rates during the first half of this year as passenger numbers rose to 6.605 million.

The airport posted an increase of 15.25 percent compared to 5.731 million passengers in the first half of 2018.

The airport saw 1.114 million passengers in June, a growth rate of 17.6 percent compared to 947,200 passengers in June 2018, a statement said.

Between January and June, there were 41,700 air traffic movements, a growth rate of 7.47 percent compared to the same period last year.

In terms of freight, air cargo volume rose to 78,780 tons, the statement said, adding that the festive seasons, summer holidays and new destinations have contributed to Sharjah Airport’s record growth over the last six months.

Ali Salim Al Midfa, chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, said: Sharjah Airport’s positive results in terms of the number of passengers during the first half of this year are a result of the efforts of all the organisations operating at the airport.

These genuine partnerships help to position the airport as one of the region’s best airports both regionally and globally.

Sharjah International Airport is an airport located 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) east south east of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. It is spread over an area of 15,200,000 m2 (3,800 acres).

Sharjah Airport is the third largest Middle East airfreight hub in cargo tonnage, according to official 2015 statistics from Airports Council International.

Ground services company, Sharjah Aviation Services, handled 586,195 tonnes in 2015 – a 16.1% increase year on year. It has one passenger terminal with an area of 125,000 m2 (1,350,000 sq ft).

Sharjah International Airport is home base of the low-cost carrier Air Arabia. The headquarters of Air Arabia is in the Sharjah Freight Center, on the property of the airport in Sharjah, UAE. The center is an old cargo terminal.

The current Sharjah Airport was built in the 1970s and was opened on 1 January 1977. On 20 August 1977 Concorde 202 G-BBDG, which came from Filton and refuelled at Damascus landed at Sharjah Airport. The aircraft also made a short flight display over the city.

The BAe party was headed by Sir Geoffrey Tuttle, which received a great welcome, the whole party were also given watches and a few received magnificent swords as well.

It replaced RAF Sharjah which was closer to the city and was opened in 1932. It was the first airport in UAE and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, for use by Imperial Airways, and was subsequently used by the RAF until 14 December 1971.

The reason for the move was development pressure from the city of Sharjah. The old airport's runway is now part of King Abdul Aziz Street in the city centre.

The airport was used by the United States Air Force 926th Tactical Fighter Group during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Approximately 450 members of the unit were stationed at the airport, which flew A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft during the conflict in late 1990 and early 1991.

The airport resides at an elevation of 116 feet (35 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 12/30 with an asphalt surface measuring 4,060 m × 60 m (13,320 ft × 197 ft).

Financial services at the airport include banking, ATMs and exchange centres.

Founded in 1985, Sharjah Airport Travel Agency (SATA) is owned by the Sharjah Airport Authority, Government of Sharjah and has 14 branches in the UAE, including one on the first floor of the main terminal at Sharjah Airport.

There are two prayer rooms available, one in the transit area of the Arrivals Terminal and the other in the ground floor of the Departures Terminal.

In addition to this there are mosques in both the East and West Cargo Terminals 3 and 4.

On 15 December 1997 a Tupolev Tu-154 from Tajik Air Flight 3183 crashed on approach to SHJ. Some 13 km from Sharjah the plane ran into terrain and 85 of the 86 occupants died. One of the seven crew members survived the disaster.

On 10 February 2004, Kish Air Flight 7170, operated by a Fokker 50 crashed on approach, killing 43 of its 46 occupants, which consisted of 3 crew and 40 passengers.

On 7 November 2004 a Boeing 747-230 freighter was damaged beyond repair due to an aborted take-off with insufficient runway remaining. None of the four crew were injured. The take-off was aborted after a report of smoke from the tower and hearing a loud bang in the cockpit.

On 21 October 2009, Azza Transport flight 2241, operated by a Boeing 707–320, crashed on take-off. The flight was carrying cargo only and all six crew members were killed.

On 3 September 2010, UPS Flight 6 developed an in-flight fire in the cargo hold and attempted to land at Sharjah after a previous unsuccessful attempt failing to land at Dubai International Airport, but lost control and crashed, killing the two crew members on board.


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