Sharjah Airport's passenger traffic dropped 69% to 4.2mln in 2020

Sharjah Airport handled 4.2 million passengers in 2020 as compared to 13.6 million in the previous year, down by 69 per cent due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.

More than 33,200 flight movements were recorded in 2020 as against 85,606 in the previous year. The airport increased its number of employees to 684 staff, including 443 citizens, while the percentage of Emiratisation in leadership positions reached approximately 90 per cent.

The drop in air traffic is in line with the fall recorded by other airports in the country due to suspension of flights during the pandemic. Dubai airport passenger traffic had also dropped 70 per cent in 2020.

“The success of Sharjah Airport in continuing to increase its capacity through expansion operations comes as a result of clear vision, a proactive strategy based on innovative solutions, and an advanced infrastructure," said Ali Salim Al Midfa, chairman of the Sharjah Airport Authority.

"Going forward, we are keen to continue adding to these successes and will be looking to upgrade the level of services provided by Sharjah Airport. This will be implemented through development processes and creating a work environment based on innovation, in line with advancements in the aviation sector and the travel market, both regionally and globally,” said Sheikh Faisal bin Saoud Al Qassimi, director of Sharjah Airport Authority.

Sharjah Airport Authority also inaugurated the East Expansion project in October 2020, which extends over an area of ,4000 square meters, at a total cost of Dh40 million to raise the airport's capacity to 20 million passengers by 2025.

The project includes four new gates, contributing to ease the flow of passengers’ movement. It consists of two floors equipped with the latest and most innovative travel technologies and provides distinctive facilities that embody the airport's commitment to providing the highest standards of services, in order to ensure the comfort and satisfaction of travellers.

It said work commenced on the central utility building project is expected to be completed in the middle of 2022, and includes the airport operations coordination center, the call center, the data center and servers, the airport central cooling unit, the electrical supply, and water tanks.

During 2020, Sharjah Airport welcomed two new passenger airlines Fly Egypt and Pakistan’s Serene Air.

The airport also renewed its agreement with "Alpha Catering" for 10 years, until 2030. Importantly, all commercial and retail outlets operating at the airport are functioning.