Sharjah Airport Authority announced that the airport welcomed 17,101,725 passengers in 2024, approximately 17.1 million, compared with 15,356,212 in 2023, an increase of 11.4%.
Flights rose by 9.5% to 107,760, compared with 98,433 in 2023.
Cargo handling increased by a record 38.6% to 195,900 tonnes, compared with 141,400 tonnes in 2023. The airport also handled approximately 14,000 tonnes of sea-air cargo.
Authority Chairman Ali Salim Al-Midfa said the airport’s record performance, initiatives and institutional achievements reinforce its position as a global aviation and logistics hub. They reflect a development vision prioritizing high-quality, efficient services and a leading passenger experience, aligned with plans to raise capacity to 25 million passengers annually by the end of 2027.
He said the authority is dedicating its resources to continuous service improvement, modern facilities, efficient operations and sustainability, while expanding airline and cargo partnerships and introducing destinations that meet customer expectations.
Authority Director Sheikh Faisal bin Saud Al-Qasimi said record passenger growth reflects Sharjah’s efforts to provide excellent services to visitors, tourists and residents and its growing tourism, economic and investment standing, supported by advanced infrastructure, government performance and a strong legislative environment.
The airport added seven direct destinations during 2024. Air Arabia launched routes to Warsaw and Kraków in Poland, Athens, Vienna and Malé, while Oya Airlines introduced direct services to Tripoli.
More international airlines now serve over 100 destinations from Sharjah. Six new carriers began operations in 2024: Pakistan’s Fly Jinnah, Iraq’s UR Airlines, Libya’s Oya Airlines, Türkiye’s AJet, Saudi Arabia’s flynas and Iraqi Airways, according to the Emirates News Agency.
Cargo connectivity also expanded. Kenya Airways introduced services from Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania; UPS began weekly Far East–Europe services via Sharjah; and Air Tanzania launched regular Dar es Salaam–Sharjah flights via Kenya.
Qatar Airways Cargo launched Sharjah–Doha services, while two Egyptian companies began cargo operations primarily from Cairo International Airport to Sharjah.
Supporting Sharjah’s sustainable food-security projects, the airport received 13 flights importing 2,200 cows for the Department of Agriculture and Livestock’s Mleiha dairy farm project.
Source: Emirates News Agency.
