A total of 5.5mn passengers passed through Sharjah International Airport (SIA) during the first half of 2017. The latest numbers show an increase of 2.9% as compared to the 5.3mn passengers recorded during the first half of 2016.
Ali Salim Al Midfa, chairman, Sharjah Airport Authority, said: “The number of passengers through Sharjah International Airport continues to grow as a result of the continuous development of the facilities and services under the guidance of HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.”
According to statistics, more than 850mn passengers have passed through the 16 Smart Gates at Sharjah International Airport since they were launched in October 2016. The smart gates have reduced the time required to carry out passport control procedures by more than 70%, helping to cut the waiting time as travellers can now get through passport control within 20 seconds.
Sheikh Faisal bin Saoud Al Qasimi, director, Sharjah Airport Authority, said that the airport will continue to provide the best services and facilities which have gained the confidence of passengers, making SIA the preferred travel option for many people because of the efficiency of procedures, particularly after the launch of smart gates which have helped cut waiting time and reduce congestion.
The aircraft movement also saw an increase, with more than 37,000 movements from January to June 2017, a 3.8% increase compared to the 36,000 movements during the corresponding period last year. Air freight volume handled at Sharjah International Airport in H1 2017 was more than 72,998 tons, including 11,157 tons in June, while the amount of sea-air cargo registered during the period from January until the end of June 2017 was 5,346 tons.