New terminal for Sharjah in April
sharjah — The Sharjah International Airport will have a new hi-tech arrival terminal by April, a top official has told Khaleej Times. The terminal is “almost complete” and is expected to attract 12 million passengers from 120 destinations this year.
The terminal will have smart self check-in kiosks and advanced parking facilities, said Sheikh Faisal bin Saud Al Qasimi, director-general of the Sharjah International Airport Authority.
— afkarali@khaleejtimes.com
sharjah — A new arrival terminal equipped with smart self check-in kiosks and advanced parking facilities will be opened to passengers in April this year, a top official at Sharjah International Airport Authority (SIAA) told Khaleej Times on Wednesday.
The new arrival terminal is almost complete and expected to attract 12 million passengers from 120 destinations around the world this year.
Speaking to Khaleej Times on the sideline of Sharjah Innovation Week, which ended on Wednesday, Sheikh Faisal bin Saud Al Qasimi, director-general of the SIAA, said that the construction is part of the ongoing Dh1.5 billion Sharjah airport expansion project.
Al Qasimi added that the development of the infrastructure will continue to attract international airlines to travel from Sharjah to major American, Asian and European cities.
The airport development plan in several phases also includes an expansion of the road network around the airport. The expansion is expected to increase the capacity of Sharjah International Airport to 20 million passengers by 2027.
The development plan also includes using modern facilities, such as smart gateways facilitating fast passenger movement and considerably shortening the processing time. The self check-in kiosks will ensure smooth travel procedures as an employee will be available to print out baggage tags and place the bags on the conveyor belt.
Al Qasimi stressed that the ex- pansion of the airport will significantly boost and multiply the number of passengers visiting the emirate, improving the existing travel options and boosting economic growth and job creation across various sectors.
He added: “Sharjah International Airport’s growth has been driven by the success of inbound tourism industry and Air Arabia, headquartered in Sharjah.
“The airport’s proximity to Dubai and the main highways connecting the country’s seven emirates has made it a convenient hub for both business and leisure travellers.”
The airport handled 11 million passengers from January to December 2016, registering a 10 per cent increase compared to 2015. In 2017, the airport handled 11.36 million passengers.
Describing the importance of participating in the UAE Innovation Month, Al Qasimi said: “We are showcasing the most innovative projects being implemented by us. One of the displays is a video presentation on our smart travel initiative, which provides an easy and quick travel experience for travellers passing through Sharjah International Airport.”