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In 2021 Sharjah Airport Served Over 7 Million People

In 2021, the Sharjah Civil Aviation authority will step up efforts to achieve its lofty objectives on a variety of fronts, including the launch of numerous services and operations, the recruitment of new airlines, the launch of major programs, and the strengthening of partnerships, all of which will contribute to the airport’s ambitions to solidify its position on the world travel map and achieve greater success.

Year each year, passenger aviation traffic surpasses 7 million people.

Last year, Sharjah International Airport handled more than 7 million people and more than 57 thousand aircraft movements, with an estimated 1.2 million people pass through the airport in December, which is commensurate with the pre-pandemic level of activity. Even with the strictest safety safeguards in place and enhanced passenger trust in the market, the data indicate that recovery efforts are continuing and that the next travel season will be successful.

The total amount of cargo handled in 2021 exceeded 140,717 tons, with the total amount of sea-air freight reaching 18,696 tons, marking a 22.27 percent increase over the previous year’s total.

“Despite severe hurdles, Sharjah Airport accomplished significant successes in 2021, reaffirming its position in the global aviation sector,” stated HE Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Airport Authority. This achievement is attributed to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, the Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairman of the Executive Council, who have helped to shape it into one of the best regional airports in the region.

According to His Excellency, when it comes to applying new travel requirements to improve the safety of passengers and employees, the airport has a high degree of flexibility, while also continuing to expand and develop a proactive strategy based on innovative solutions, sophisticated infrastructure, and young talents.

As for the Director of the Sharjah Airport Authority, His Excellency Sheikh Faisal Bin Saoud Al Qassimi, he stated, “The year 2021 was exceptional because we were able to improve travel flow and passenger comfort while also continuing to work on development and modernization projects, as well as preparing for a full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

His Excellency made the following observation: “The aviation industry in the United Arab Emirates is one of the most sophisticated and stable industries in the country, acting as a nerve center for the expansion of economic operations in travel and tourism.

In this way, Sharjah International Airport contributes significantly to the general expansion of the economy and, as a result, to the advancement of national development. As part of our ongoing efforts to improve our infrastructure and services, which serve as a model in terms of quality, safety, and operational efficiency requirements, and are capable of carrying a high number of passengers and cargo, we have established a new quality and safety standard.”

Successes and honors

In 2021, Sharjah International Airport was awarded the Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) by the Airports Council International (ACI) for the second consecutive year, making it the first airport in the UAE and the eighth in the Middle East to achieve this milestone. It has also been recognized by the World Federation for the Handicapped with a Gold Accreditation as a friendly entity for people with mobility disabilities, making it the fourth airport in the world to receive this certificate in recognition of its role and excellence in managing and providing facilities for people with mobility disabilities.

The airport also got the Global Excellence (GX) Awards’ ‘Gold Award’ for the best corporate website, which it received in addition. The Sharjah Airport Authority was also able to renew its ISO Certificate (ISO 27001:2013) for the Global Information Security Management System for the next three years (January 2021 to January 2024), and it was recognized with the award for Best Electronic Awareness Plan in Information Security for 2021 at the Cybersecurity and Innovation events held in Dubai, as well as the Sharjah Excellence Award 2020 2021, which recognized the authority’s contribution to Sharjah Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Smarter services are being introduced.

A number of innovative solutions and services have been introduced by the Sharjah Airport Authority with the goal of providing passengers with an integrated smart environment. Self-service travel is now available at the airport, allowing passengers to complete check-in processes and drop off luggage on their own, hence minimizing passenger waiting time during rush hour.

The airport has also made use of smart Internet of Things (IoT) technology to improve its operations. In order to improve the efficiency of operating operations across check-in sections, security checks, and passport control, a Passenger Flow and Queue Management system has been installed.

This enables for direct monitoring of the operations and services offered, and it adds to the management of airport resources and the expansion of the airport’s capacity. It has also been installed an Automated Boarding Pass Verification system, which will examine all kinds of boarding passes to ensure that they are legitimate and will expedite the boarding procedure for passengers.

Adding more airlines and new locations to the mix

Sharjah has established itself as a key international transportation hub. Sharjah Airport has officially celebrated the inauguration of flights by a number of new airlines, including Indian carriers Vistara and Go First, Russia’s Aeroflot, Qatar Airways, Anadolu Jet- a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, Pakistan’s SereneAir, Syrian Cham Wings Airline, Ukraine’s Bees Airline, Oman Air and Salam Air from Muscat. Other new airlines include Egypt’s “Fly Egypt” and Kazakhstan’s FlyArystan Airlines.

Partnerships and contracts

In addition, the Sharjah Airport Travel Agency (SATA) will build a new location in Dubai in 2021 to better serve the rising demand for its services from both people and businesses. Also recently inked was a travel agent agreement with Pakistan International Airlines, which allows the agency to offer ticket sales services via the airline’s website and call center.

The project involves a large-scale enlargement.

In the current phase of the overall extension project, the airport’s capacity is expected to be increased to 20 million passengers across an estimated total area of more than 120,000 square meters. Approximately AED1.9 billion is expected to be spent on this project, which would involve a full enlargement of the passenger terminal to improve capacity and guarantee smooth passage through the airport. This update would further assist the Airport in meeting the expectations of customers who demand an extraordinary travel via Sharjah International Airport.

Several significant accomplishments have been made at Sharjah International Airport in the last year, including the building of a new MoGas fuel station and the commissioning of a sewage treatment facility that will be operational in 2021. The Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority also inaugurated a 33 kV substation near the airport, which will serve the surrounding area.

Participation and initiative are encouraged.

A number of innovations have been promoted by the Sharjah Airport Authority in order to better enhance airport procedures. These strategic efforts have enabled the widespread integration of innovations throughout the airport’s numerous activities, therefore enhancing the overall quality of service for customers while also providing a safe and enjoyable travel experience for them. Customer satisfaction and trust in Sharjah Airport as one of the top regional airports in terms of customer service have significantly grown as a result of these improvements.

The last year has seen a slew of efforts aimed at instilling a culture of innovation among the company’s employees, including innovation conversations, innovation flashes, and the creation of an innovation oasis.

This award was established in order to recognize and promote the skills and abilities of workers in order to build a culture of excellence and institutional leadership. There were 10 awardees from different departments and sectors recognized for their contributions at this year’s awards event. There were further award categories for excellent management and the most remarkable service provided by a company or organization. Additionally, a special honors category was established, from which six workers were chosen.

The Sharjah Airport Authority has also established the Sharjah Airport Sonic Branding initiative, which aims to give its brand a new dimension by incorporating sound into it. Sound branding is inspired by the movement and noises that take place at San Francisco International Airport, and it is part of the airport’s drive to embrace new standards of innovation.

These projects demonstrate Sharjah Airport’s and the UAE’s civil aviation sector’s ability to take the initiative. It also serves to emphasize the emirate’s enviable position as a favored tourist, cultural, and commercial destination in the region. 

This past year, the Sharjah Airport Authority has worked very hard to ensure that all of its guests get the greatest service and the safest experience possible when visiting the airport.

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