Sharjah Airport returns to pre-pandemic operating levels

n Sharjah Airport experienced a remarkable growth in the previous year achieving the Authority’s primary objectives of revamping the Emirate’s tourism sector as well as elevating the airport’s status as one of the top five airports in the region.

Passenger traffic witnessed a growth rate of 84.73 per cent, increasing the numbers to nearly 13 million passengers in 2022, as opposed to 7 million passengers in 2021.

Meanwhile, aircraft movement experienced an increase of 51.69 per cent to 87,495 flights in 2022, as compared to 57,679 by the end of 2021. Moreover, around 170,544 tonnes of freight were handled through the Sharjah Airport in 2022, indicating an increase of 21.20 percent from around 140,717 tonnes in 2021, according to a press communique.

“The remarkable results resonate our strategic goals of reviving the travel industry in the Emirate of Sharjah, together with our ambitions to offer elevated levels of services,” remarked Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Airport Authority.

“The growth further represents the Authority’s successes in improving travel experiences of customers and offering them industry-leading services,” commented HE Sheikh Faisal Bin Saoud Al Qassimi, Director, Sharjah Airport Authority.

Sharjah Airport’s network includes more than 100 tourism destinations across the globe. In 2022, the airport added two more destinations via Air Arabia – Osh, Kyrgyzstan, and Milan, Italy. To improve connectivity between these destinations, Sharjah Airport welcomed the inaugural flights of several airlines, including Nile Air (Egypt), Tarco Aviation (Sudan) and Biman Bangladesh Airlines.