Sharjah airport is embarking on a major expansion project aimed at increasing its passenger handling capacity

In the first half of 2023, Sharjah Airport had a 24.4 percent year-on-year increase in traffic to seven million passengers.The airport, which is undergoing a massive expansion project to increase its passenger handling capacity to 20 million in a few years, has also seen significant development in cargo operations.

The Dh2.4 billion Sharjah Airport expansion project, which is scheduled to be finished in 2026, aims to improve service standards and increase flight capacity. The airport anticipates attracting additional airline clients, notably from Europe and East Asia. The airport, which serves as the home base for Air Arabia, the region's top low-cost carrier, handled more than 70,000 tonnes of cargo, including 6,000 tonnes of sea-air freight, according to a statement from the airport.

According to Ali Salim Al Midfa, chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, the achievements represent Sharjah Airport Authority's efforts to exceed passengers' expectations and improve their travelling experience, as well as elevate Sharjah Airport's status to become one of the top five regional airports that provide an exceptional travel experience.

To further improve customer experience, the airport finished a repair plan at the passenger terminal, including the arrivals terminal, in 2022. The airport handled around 13.1 million passengers last year, up from 7.0 million in 2021, and is anticipated to approach the pre-pandemic levels of 13.6 million in 2023.

In addition, the airport authority announced the inclusion of six new airline destinations and three new air cargo destinations. Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Ufa City and Samara City in Russia, Lar in Iran, Indore in India, and Bangkok in Thailand are among the new destinations. Houston in the United States, Kigali in Rwanda, and Nashik in India are among the new air freight destinations.