ACU Sep-2018_Final Artwork LR

AIRPORTS
Sharjah Airport handles 5.731M passengers in H1 2018
SHARJAH: Sharjah Airport posted
4.34 percent in passenger movement
during the first half of 2018, with
5.731 million people handled through
t h e e m i r a t e's m a i n g a t e w a y
compared with 5.493 million in the
same period in 2017.
The increase is a result of newly
expanded service offerings for both
passengers and airlines, as well as the
expansion of air carriers operating out
of the airport, making Sharjah Airport
one of the most important transit
terminals in the UAE region, officials
said.
For the first six months of 2018,
regular and irregular aircraf t
movements registered more than
38,800 movements, up by 3.83
percent. In June, the airport recorded
6,570 flights.
In the first half of this year,
passenger movements increased
significantly to and from a number of
major destinations including India,
Russia, the GCC and Asia due to an
increase in tourism flows from those
markets.
In terms of air cargo, Sharjah
Airport registered more than 64,730
tons while, from January to the end of
June, the volume of sea/air cargo was
19 percent higher compared with the
same period last year.
“ The emirate of Sharjah has
succeeded in strengthening its
Azerbaijan sees 14% increase in passenger traffic
BAKU: Azerbaijan's Heydar Aliyev
International Airport served 2.5
million passengers from January to
July this year, up by 14 percent, and
there's optimism for continued
upswing with Bahrain's Gulf Air now
serving the route.
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), the
country's national carrier, served
1.070 million passengers during the
period while its low-cost subsidiary,
Buta Air ways, carried 256,000
passengers. The Kingdom of Bahrain's
national airline, Gulf Air, launched
flights to Baku in June, which is hoped
to further increase foot traffic in the
country.
Azerbaijan's airport currently serves
more than 30 airlines on over 40
destinations. The top 10 destinations
include Moscow, Istanbul, Dubai,
Antalya, Sharjah, Kyiv, Baghdad,
Tehran, Bodrum and Tel-Aviv.
position on the regional and
international tourism and trade map
while Sharjah Airport plays a pivotal
role in enhancing the image of this
pioneering city by continuously
upgrading the quality of services
provided to passengers, making their
travel through the airport a distinct
journey and experience,” said Ali
Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah
Airport Authority.
“The results of the first half of this
year reflect the continued growth in
passenger movement and the state of
development witnessed by various
fields within the aviation sector in the
UAE. It is also evidence of the
potential of Sharjah Airport and the
success of Sharjah's efforts to
strengthen its position as a hub for
tourism and investment in the
region.”
Al Midfa said the users of the 16
smart gates, now available in the
departures and arrivals of the airport
building, reached nearly 1.5 million
passengers in both directions during
the first half of this year, further
increasing passenger movement
while reducing congestion during
peak times, achieving completion
rates not exceeding 20 seconds for
each transit transaction.
Heydar Aliyev Airport, named the
best airport in Russia & the CIS region
by Skytrax World Airport Awards,
opened a new terminal in April of
2014 with a total area of 65,000 sqm in
anticipation of more tourists.