Fujairah International Airport on a growth path

Airport is in talks with airlines who want to operate there

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Dubai: Fujairah International Airport is looking at over-flight connections to Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar in a move to attract more tourists from the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries, according to Charles Hajdu, the airport’s general manager.

The emirate’s tourism sector has seen positive growth in the last few years. Last year, 20 hotels attracted 1.2 million guests, up 60 per cent from 750,000 guests that stayed in Fujairah’s hotels in 2011.

Currently, Abu Dhabi’s Rotana Jet offers the only scheduled service from Fujairah International. It flies daily from Fujairah to Abu Dhabi and back.

Asked if international airlines are interested in flying from Fujairah International, Hajdu said: “There are always talks. With the runway closure [at Dubai International Airport] next year, they are looking to potentially move their operations here.”

Hajdu did not comment when asked if a decision has been made to launch a Fujairah-based airline, but he said “it would be helpful to have more passengers passing through the terminal.”

According to him, there is a “possibility” that Fujairah International could become a hub for low-cost carriers, but that “depends on whether they maintain their business model.” Flydubai has taken a hybrid model, with the launch of business class cabins across its fleet.

Flydubai and Sharjah-based Air Arabia land at the airport to divert flights, he said.

Passenger services account for a small part of Fujairah International’s operations, he said. The airport has a cargo terminal, and offers aircraft dismantling and maintenance.

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