DUBAI, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates' (UAE's) Sharjah International Airport said on Sunday it achieved a 3.29 percent growth in passenger traffic during the first nine months of 2017, UAE state news agency WAM reported.
The UAE's third civil aviation hub hosted 8.61 million passengers during the period up from 8.34 million, compared with the same period last year.
The airport, located northeast of Dubai, also said it handled 3.12 million passengers in the third quarter of 2017. This development represented a 4.08 percent year on year.
Ali Salim Al-Midfa, chairman of the Sharjah Airport Authority, said the airport is eyeing more opportunities to expand capacity and attract more international airlines.
Sheikh Faisal bin Saoud Al Qassimi, director of Sharjah Airport Authority, said the growth in the number of passengers was also attributed to the status of Sharjah as a strategic economic, business and tourist hub in the region, and also the "excellent services provided by the airport."
Sharjah International Airport is the home base of the Middle East's oldest budget flyer Air Arabia.
