Sharjah air passenger traffic grows by 3% in Q2 2017

Passenger traffic grew by 3 per cent year on year at Sharjah International Airport during the last quarter, as the airport handled 2.75 million passengers during April, May and June, compared with 2.66 million during the same period of 2016. April saw the maximum increase, which was of 6 per cent. Aircraft movements at the airport also increased by 3 percent this quarter, with the total of scheduled and non-scheduled movements in Q2 2017 rising to 18,801, compared with 18,183 in Q2 2016.

Of the different airlines playing a role in this rise, Air Arabia, the largest low-cost carrier operator in the Middle East and North Africa, has had a prominent role. It launched a number of new services from its Sharjah hub this year, including permanent services to Batumi in Georgia, Baku in Azarbajian, Somaliland’s capital Hargeisa and Sohar in Oman. The airline also launched a summer-special non-stop service to the Turkish port city of Trabzon.