RAK International Airport climbs to greater heights in 2017

Ras al-Khaimah International Airport has witnessed continuing growth in 2017, surpassing all passenger, movements and cargo tonnage records since the airport’s inauguration.

Charter flights have been running throughout the summer for the first time as Ras al-Khaimah moves towards being a year-round destination for tourists. The airport’s first scheduled direct service to Europe kicked off with a connection to Prague, resulting in passenger volumes increasing by six percent compared to 2016 results.

On the cargo front, volumes are up 30.2 percent than the previous year as the long-term strategy for the sector, which included additional routes coming on stream, comes to fruition. This growth has also impacted overall aircraft movements which are up by 17.6 percent year-on-year.

Mohammed Qazi, the airport’s CEO, said, "2017 started strong as we continued our focus on promoting Ras al-Khaimah as the fastest-growing tourist destination regionally as well as the specialist cargo centre in the regional market, but summer was something we wanted to target this year as an indicator of our growing success."

Qazi also announced that the RAK International Airport winter charter schedules have been finalised and that new planned routes to Romania will begin in December of this year.

"While the commercial performance has been at its strongest in our history, we have also invested in infrastructure with a new departures terminal, and we’ll be completing our cargo expansion by the end of the year," he added.

According to the CEO, RAK International Airport's achievements surpassed expectations in a short period due to the tremendous support and vision of H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras al-Khaimah.

"Sheikh Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of RAK Airport, has also been instrumental in guiding the strategy development and implementation over the years. We are in a good place, and with established mechanisms, Ras Al Khaimah International Airport will witness many more years of growth," Qazi concluded.