UAE's fading Fujairah airport sees revival based on oil sector needs
2012 04 21
- Details
THE airport of UAE' Fujairah emirate, the second smallest and the only one facing the Gulf of Oman, has suffered a drastic decline in traffic over the last six years as interest in Abu Dhabi and Dubai eclipses its prospects and siphons off its passengers and cargo.
Despite the Fujairah airport's benefits in transporting cargo via road and cheaper aircraft parking fees it has found it difficult to remain competitive since the opening of Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport, reports Abu Dhabi's newspaper, The National.
Fujairah's volumes have plummeted against Dubai International Airport's cargo volume increases, in the month of February it was up 6.5 per cent to 157,492 tonnes compared to same period 2011.
"We have seen the cargo market decline because of Al Maktoum Airport and we recognise that we will not be a major player in this market," said airport business development manager Charles Hajdu.
The airport plans to promote itself as strategic energy and shipping hub supported by the oil, gas and shipping industries in a new overland pipeline to open later this year. A pipeline will allow crude oil to go from Abu Dhabi through Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman and away from the Strait of Hormuz, where there has been much sabre rattling of late between Iran and western powers recently.
The airport has become an aircraft park, though some have been abandoned by Soviets and have been a focus for salvage companies looking for engine parts, aluminium and other metals, even seatbelts and buckles.
The addition of berths for handling extra capacity and larger vessels at Port of Fujairah is supported by intermodal improvements in a new motorway cutting journey time from the city to Dubai.
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