A total of 5.5 million passengers passed through Sharjah International Airport (SIA) during the first half of 2017, marking an increase of 2.9 per cent as compared to the 5.3 million passengers recorded during the first half of 2016.

A total of 835,800 passengers passed through the airport in June, a 1.7 per cent growth as compared to the 821,230 passengers during the same month last year, reported Emirates news agency Wam, citing an SIA statement.

The aircraft movement increased to more than 37,300 movements from January to June 2017, a 3.8 per cent increase compared to the 36,000 movements during the corresponding period last year. The airport registered 6,115 aircraft movements, including 94 unscheduled ones, during June 2017.

The volume of air freight handled at Sharjah International Airport in H1 2017 was more than 72,998 tons, including 11,157 tons in June, while the amount of sea-air cargo registered during the period from January until the end of June 2017 was 5,346 tons.

Ali Salim Al Midfa, chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, said, "The number of passengers through Sharjah International Airport continues to grow as a result of the continuous development of the facilities and services under the guidance of Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah."

The use of smart gates has contributed to the airport’s capacity while there has also been an increase in the number of destinations served by the airlines operating at the airport, he added.

Sheikh Faisal bin Saoud Al Qasimi, director of Sharjah Airport Authority, said that the airport will continue to provide the best services and facilities which have gained the confidence of passengers, making SIA the preferred travel option for many people because of the efficiency of procedures, particularly after the launch of smart gates which have helped cut waiting time and reduce congestion.

According to statistics, more than 850,000 passengers have passed through the 16 Smart Gates at Sharjah International Airport since they were launched in October 2016. The smart gates have reduced the time required to carry out passport control procedures by more than 70 per cent, helping to cut the waiting time as travellers can now get through passport control within 20 seconds.