UAE: Sharjah airport remains resilient during pandemic, says top official

Sharjah - 11 airlines launch regular flights in first half of this year

Sharjah International Airport remained resilient during the pandemic and staged a remarkable performance defying negative trends by adding new destinations and attracting more airlines in the first half of this year, its top official says.

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Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, said the authority has successfully tackled the Covid-19 challenge to continue on the path of growth in all areas.

"We have successfully launched regular flights of 11 new airlines during the first half of this year. This is in addition to seasonal flights by six airlines as well as three new air cargo flights," Al Midfa told Khaleej Times during an interview.

Al Midfa said some of the airlines now operating from Sharjah International Airport include Oman Air, SyrianAir, Qatar Airways, Go Air and Vistara Airlines.

"We are constantly communicating and working with various regional and international authorities to attract new airlines to the Emirate and offer connectivity with new destinations and regions," Al Midfa said.

Air Arabia plays key role

Answering a question, he said Air Arabia has also added several new destinations to its flight network. It launched regular services to Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, Phuket in Thailand and another airport in Istanbul.

"Air Arabia is working to restore the operating rates of its regular flights to East Asia and Europe in the near future that will further increase the air traffic activity to and from Sharjah, offering UAE travellers a more extensive network of regional and international destinations," Al Midfa said.

Air Arabia is Sharjah's flagship airline, operating from both the emirate and Abu Dhabi to many international destinations.

Airport growth

The emirate, considered the Cultural Capital of the Arab and Islamic World with several tourist attractions and landmarks, continues its efforts to consolidate its position on the global travel map by partnering with new airlines and destinations.

"The airport witnessed a significant growth in the number of passengers and the volume of air cargo over the past few years due to increasing interest among tourists to visit Sharjah and the UAE," Al Midfa said.

"We have been keen to develop our services, simplify procedures, and attract new airlines. It has contributed to strengthening the position of Sharjah as an attractive shopping and business destination for both tourists and investors," he said.