Sharjah gets Dh500m runway to welcome A380s

Sharjah International Airport’s new Dh500 million airport runway was opened this week, significantly expanding the airport’s capacity to achieve its goal of handling 25 million passengers by year 2025.

The new runway adds capacity for large and new-generation ICAO Code F aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Boeings B747-8 Intercontinental and B747-8 freighter, plus increases the airport’s ability to grow its cargo business.

The new runway spans 4,060 metres, has two taxiways and eight connecting corridors to provide aircraft with access to the main runway and hangars.

Sharjah International Airport registered a 13 per cent year-on-year increase in passenger traffic for the past two years and passenger traffic during 2014 has, so far, increased by 14 per cent.

The emirate has added 200 more weekly flights to its summer timetable during May, June and early July following the temporary shutdown of two of Dubai International Airport’s runways for scheduled maintenance, giving a boost to summer air traffic.

However, the airport’s organic growth remains strong reaching 17 per cent in September (compared to September 2013).

The airport is a hub for a number of international passenger and cargo airlines including the Sharjah-headquartered Air Arabia, which serves 100 destinations in the Middle East, North Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia and Europe.

The airline carried 6.1 million passengers in 2013 and 3.3 million during the first half of 2014.

The airport expansion will support both commercial and tourism demands.

Sharjah’s economy is growing at eight per cent per annum and its tourism sector is experiencing a period of high growth.

According to the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), more than a million tourists stayed in the emirate during the first six months of 2014: a 15 per cent increase on tourist numbers during the first half of 2013.

Sharjah expects two million tourists to visit by the end of the year.