Sharjah International Airport
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Sharjah International Airport (Template:Langx) Template:Airport codes is an international airport located Template:Convert<ref name="aip"/> east-southeast of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. It is spread over an area of Template:Convert.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is the 3rd busiest airport in the country as well as the 10th busiest airport in the Middle East. It has one runway, and is the only airport in Sharjah capable of international flights as of 2022. By 2027, it is expected to increase its capacity to 25 million passengers annually.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Overview
Sharjah International Airport is the third largest Middle East air freight hub in cargo tonnage, according to official 2015 statistics from Airports Council International. Ground services company, Sharjah Aviation Services, handled 586,195 tonnes in 2015 – a 16.1% increase year on year.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It has one passenger terminal with an area of Template:Convert.<ref name=":0" />
Sharjah International Airport is home base of the low-cost carrier Air Arabia. The headquarters of Air Arabia is in the Sharjah Freight Center,<ref name="HQ">"Contact Info Template:Webarchive." Air Arabia. Retrieved on 21 June 2010. "Air Arabia (UAE) Air Arabia Head Quarters Sharjah Freight Center (Cargo), near Sharjah International Airport P.O. Box 132 Sharjah, United Arab Emirates"</ref> on the property of the airport<ref name="Cargoterm">Sobie, Brendan. "Low cost & regionals: Arabian pioneers." Flight International. 23 April 2007. Retrieved on 8 February 2011. "Air Arabia's headquarters is hidden in a dated cargo terminal at Sharjah airport, a 15km (9 miles) drive from central Dubai, which should take 15 minutes but can take up to two hours during rush hour."</ref> in Sharjah, UAE.<ref name="HQ"/> The center is an old cargo terminal.
It replaced RAF Sharjah, which was closer to the city and was opened in 1932. It was the first airport in UAE and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, for use by Imperial Airways, and was subsequently used by the RAF until 14 December 1971.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The reason for the move was development pressure from the city of Sharjah. The old terminal and tower building is now Al Mahatta Museum.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The old airport's runway is now part of King Abdul Aziz Street in the city centre.<ref>"Airports and ATC: nothing but the best", Flight International, 30 July 1977, p.354 (online archive version). Retrieved 3 September 2010.</ref><ref>History of Sharjah Template:Webarchive. Retrieved 3 September 2010.</ref><ref>Sharjah – How to Get There Template:Webarchive. Retrieved 3 September 2010.</ref>
The airport was used by the United States Air Force 926th Tactical Fighter Group during Operation Desert Shield/Storm.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Approximately 450 members of the unit were stationed at the airport, which flew A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft during the conflict in late 1990 and early 1991.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Facilities
The airport is at an elevation of Template:Convert above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 12/30 with an asphalt surface measuring Template:Convert.<ref name="aip"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Founded in 1985, Sharjah Airport Travel Agency is owned by the Sharjah Airport Authority, Government of Sharjah and has 14 branches in the UAE, including one on the first floor of the main terminal at Sharjah Airport.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
There are two prayer rooms available, one in the transit area of the Arrivals Terminal and the other on the ground floor of the Departures Terminal. There are mosques in both the East and West Cargo Terminals 3 and 4.
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights to and from Sharjah:<ref>sharjahairport.ae - Flight Timetable retrieved 25 March 2017</ref>
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Cargo
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Statistics
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| Year | Total passengers | Total cargo | Total aircraft movements |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1,001,852 | 580,550 | 27,577 |
| 2000 | 948,207 | 475,122 | 25,997 |
| 2001 | 861,478 | 415,587 | 24,431 |
| 2002 | 1,028,624 | 497,010 | 24,803 |
| 2003 | 1,247,458 | 507,644 | 28,017 |
| 2004 | 1,661,941 | 500,927 | 32,334 |
| 2005 | 2,237,646 | 505,392 | 38,699 |
| 2006 | 3,064,396 | 569,511 | 44,182 |
| 2007 | 4,324,313 | 570,363 | 51,314 |
| 2008 | 5,280,445 | 586,677 | 60,813 |
| 2009 | 5,764,098 | 501,824 | 61,451 |
| 2011 | 6,600,000 | 417,116 | 63,737 |
| 2012 | 7,516,538 | 475,116 | 65,975 |
| 2013 | 8,505,268 | 493,402 | 66,247 |
| 2014 | 9,516,600 | 528,250 | 70,559 |
| 2015 | 11,993,887 | 586,195 | 98,786 |
Accidents and incidents
- On 15 December 1997, a Tupolev Tu-154 from Tajikistan Airlines Flight 3183 crashed on approach to SHJ. Some 13 km from Sharjah the plane ran into terrain and 85 of the 86 occupants died. One of the seven crew members survived the disaster.<ref>AviationSafety.net database on EY85281, retrieved 9 May 2009</ref>
- On 10 February 2004, Kish Air Flight 7170, operated by a Fokker 50 crashed on approach, killing 43 of its 46 occupants, which consisted of 3 crew and 40 passengers.<ref>Khaleej Times Online: article about Kish Air crash Template:Webarchive</ref><ref name=Kish7170>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- On 7 November 2004, an Air Atlanta Boeing 747 freighter was damaged beyond repair due to an aborted take-off with insufficient runway remaining. None of the four crew was injured. The take-off was aborted after a report of smoke from the control tower and hearing a loud bang in the cockpit.<ref>AviationSafety.net database on plane:TF-APR, retrieved 9 May 2009</ref>
- On 21 October 2009, Azza Transport Flight 2241, operated by a Boeing 707–320, crashed on take-off. The flight was carrying cargo only and all six crew members were killed.<ref name=ASN211009>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Reuters>Template:Cite news</ref>
See also
- Mahatta Fort, the previous site of the airport
- List of the busiest airports in the Middle East
References
Template:Air Force Historical Research Agency Template:Reflist
External links
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Template:Portal bar Template:Airports in the United Arab Emirates Template:Airports the Middle East