The Middle East is witnessing a surge in the global air passenger. And to accommodate the ever-rising tourist population in the countries, certain airports are planning to expand. Sharjah Airport has received an investment of Dhs2.4 Billion for the expansion project. Let’s find out what all changes would be made during this expansion.
Sharjah Airport Expansion Project
A relatively higher number of airline passengers are anticipated at the airport. The target market is expected especially from markets in East Asia and Europe. A proposal to expand the international airport in Sharjah is therefore urgently needed. According to Khaleej Times, the airport, which has begun a significant development project with the goal of raising its capacity to handle 20 million passengers in a few years, saw a significant increase in cargo operations as well. In the first half of 2023, it had a year-over-year increase in traffic of 24.4%, reaching seven million passengers.
By 2026, the Dh2.4 billion Sharjah Airport expansion project, which is scheduled to be finished, will have increased flight capacity and raised service standards. According to Khaleej Times, the Sharjah airport was able to manage more than 70,000 tonnes of cargo, including 6,000 tonnes of sea-air freight.
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New Flight & Cargo Destinations Announced
Six new airline destinations and three new air cargo destinations have also been added, according to the airport authorities. Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Ufa and Samara in Russia, Lar in Iran, Indore in India, and Bangkok in Thailand are among the new locations. Houston in the US, Kigali in Rwanda, and Nashik in India are among the newly added air freight destinations.
The Sharjah Airport Authority’s chairman spoke to Khaleej Times. They claim that the action is consistent with the Authority’s goal of fostering business relations and promoting Sharjah and the UAE’s economic growth. Additionally, it will emphasise strengthening the infrastructure and service options while promoting sustainable growth to better link with the outside world.
To further enhance the client experience, the airport finished a repair plan in the passenger terminal in 2022. The airport handled over 13.1 million passengers in 2018, up from 7.0 million in 2021, and is anticipated to surpass the 13.6 million that existed prior to the pandemic in 2023.
Overall, the Sharjah Airport expansion is set to increase flight capacity and enhance services to air passengers.
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