SHARJAH, 2 February 2007 — Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al-Thani, chairman of Sharjah Department of Civil Aviation, announced yesterday the creation of Sharjah Aviation Services in support of the nearly completed AED350 million Sharjah Airport expansion.
The newly launched aviation service is a joint venture with Sharjah-based carrier Air Arabia and will be responsible for delivering a comprehensive range of passenger and airline operator ramp and cargo handling services. The airport expansion when completed will be capable of handling up to 8 million passengers beginning this year and will have 42 new check-in counters, six new air bridges, 16 new passport-control counters, four e-gates and additional parking for up to 800 vehicles.
The airport expansion was urgently needed due to increased air traffic which rose by 36 percent in 2006. Last year alone Sharjah airport served over 3 million passengers, operated over 40,000 flights and moved an excess of 500,000 tons of cargo throughout the region.
Speaking on the creation of Sharjah Aviation Services, Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al-Thani, also chairman of Air Arabia said “Sharjah Airport continues to offer new and improved facilities and handing services, including a new state-of-the- art terminal and ground-handler provider. Through Sharjah Aviation Services, we will ensure that both airline operators and their customers continue to turn to Sharjah as an international gateway to the UAE, Gulf and wider region.”
Explaining the partnership with Sharjah Aviation Services, Air Arabia’s Chief Executive Officer Adil Ali told Arab News that “any new airport to a new airline, such as Air Arabia, means efficiency.”