Sharjah Airport and Air Arabia commemorated the launch of the first direct flight from Sharjah to the Maldives on October 27, 2024, marking a significant achievement for Sharjah in the global travel and tourism landscape. The inaugural ceremony was graced by Hassaan Waheed, deputy ambassador of the Republic of Maldives to the UAE, along with officials and directors from Sharjah Airport Authority (SAA) and Air Arabia. Air Arabia will provide daily flights between Sharjah Airport and Velana International Airport in Malé, Maldives, utilizing Airbus A320 aircraft.
Enhancing services for travelers
Ali Salim Al Midfa, chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, noted the airport’s ongoing efforts to enhance its international presence by introducing new direct routes for airlines operating from Sharjah. He mentioned that the launch of direct flights to the Maldives is a significant addition to the destinations announced by Air Arabia this year, reinforcing the authority’s commitment to improving passenger experience and services.
Al Midfa pointed out that the Maldives is a highly sought-after tourist destination, prompting Sharjah Airport to enhance its services for travelers heading to the islands. He highlighted the importance of this new route in strengthening the aviation sector in the region, as well as in bolstering economic and tourism ties between the UAE and the Maldives.
Adel Al Ali, group CEO of Air Arabia, expressed excitement about the inaugural flight to the Maldives, describing it as a key milestone in the airline’s network expansion. He emphasized the airline’s commitment to providing affordable air travel options while facilitating access to new global destinations.
Strategic growth plans for Sharjah Airport
Sharjah Airport Authority has outlined a strategic plan aimed at increasing the airport’s capacity to 25 million passengers. This plan focuses on attracting international airlines, boosting flight operations, and expanding the destination network through partnerships with key stakeholders. The authority is also committed to enhancing services through the latest technologies and development projects.
Recent airline additions
Last month, Sharjah Airport welcomed the inaugural flights of the Saudi airline flynas, broadening the range of carriers offering scheduled services to and from the UAE airport. Flynas intends to operate seven weekly flights from Jeddah to Sharjah Airport and two weekly flights from Madinah to the Emirate of Sharjah, using Boeing 737 aircraft.
Supporting economic development
Sharjah Airport serves as a vital gateway that supports the emirate’s economic activity, tourism, and business sectors. It attracts investments through expanded connectivity and enhanced aviation operations, now serving over 100 international destinations.
Progress on expansion project
The AED2.4 billion ($650 million) expansion project for the airport is progressing on schedule, aimed at upgrading the passenger terminal and central facilities. An engineering team led by the Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority recently visited Italy to oversee the project’s developments and ensure its successful implementation.
Passenger and cargo growth
In the first half of 2024, Sharjah Airport recorded a notable increase in passenger numbers compared to the previous year, with over 8.3 million travelers. The airport also experienced growth in aviation movements and significant increases in cargo handling operations.
In January 2024, the Sharjah Airport Authority announced that passenger numbers at Sharjah Airport surpassed 15.3 million in 2023. This represents an increase from 13.1 million passengers in 2022, reflecting a growth rate of over 17.4 percent. Additionally, aircraft movements reached a record high of more than 98,000 flights, compared to 87,000 in 2022, marking an increase of over 12 percent. The total freight volume processed through Sharjah Airport in 2023 exceeded 141,000 tons.
These figures underscore the emirate’s prominent position on the global travel map and highlight the quality of services provided by the airport to both travelers and businesses.
Read more: Sharjah welcomes 1.057 million hotel guests in 8 months
New destinations
In response to growing demand and to enhance operational capacity, Sharjah Airport Authority added seven new passenger destinations in 2023. These new routes include Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Kazan and Samara in Russia, Lar in Iran, Indore in India, as well as Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand. Additionally, three new air cargo destinations were introduced: Houston in the U.S., Kigali in Rwanda, and Nasik in India.
Sharjah Airport now connects to over 100 destinations across 62 countries through 33 international airlines. India remains the top international travel destination, with passenger numbers exceeding 3.4 million. Saudi Arabia follows in second place with over 1.5 million passengers, while Pakistan ranks third with approximately 1.2 million travelers.
Furthermore, the most popular cities for travelers in 2023 were Doha, Dhaka, and Cairo. Doha, the capital of Qatar, saw passenger numbers exceed 723,000, representing a remarkable 95 percent growth compared to 2022. Dhaka recorded more than 633,000 passengers, while Cairo attracted around 488,000 travelers, placing it third among preferred destinations.
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