Post-Pandemic Surge in Passenger Traffic at Surat Airport: Record 4720 Passengers Travel to Sharjah in May
Anticipated to Exceed One Million Total Passengers in Financial Year 2023/24
Surat Airport has observed a notable increase in passenger traffic in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. In a first since the crisis, the monthly passenger count reached a staggering 4720 in May 2023, marking a significant recovery.
As per recent data, the monthly passenger count at Surat Airport has now begun to exceed one lakh. This trend suggests that the total number of passengers for the financial year 2023/24 is likely to surpass one million. Airport sources attribute this growth to an increase in the number of passengers traveling to international destinations like Dubai and Sharjah for business or leisure, especially during the summer vacation.
From April 2019 to 2023, the airport witnessed an average of 3,500 passengers per month. However, May 2023 recorded a surge with a total of 4720 passengers - 2337 traveled from Surat to Sharjah and 2383 from Sharjah to Surat. This figure marks an increase of a thousand passengers compared to the preceding months.
Currently, the Surat-Sharjah flight, operated by Air India Express, flies three days a week—on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The flight departs from Sharjah at 7:30 PM, arriving in Surat at 11:55 PM, and then departs from Surat at 12:55 PM, reaching Sharjah at 2:30 AM. The service has reportedly received an enthusiastic response from passengers over the past month.