Ras Al Khaimah International Airport will come in at the lower end of its target for passenger numbers this year, the airport’s chief executive says.
Mohammed Qazi said the airport is being hamstrung by delays on the part of Indian authorities processing paperwork that would enable flights to India by Air Arabia, which has succeeded the defunct RAK Airways as the emirate’s flagship carrier.
Before the India delay, RAK airport had expected 250,000 to 400,000 passengers to pass through its gates this year.
Mr Qazi says the delays mean the lesser of those figures is the airport’s new target.
“Of course, the 250,000-400,000 passengers that were expected was based on the route to India. If this doesn’t happen, we will expect 250,000 passengers,” he said.
He added, “It has been five months since we applied [for approvals]. It shouldn’t take this long.”
Air Arabia started operations from RAK airport on May 6 with the launch of flights to seven cities. Calicut in India was part of its operating plan, but it is still waiting necessary approvals from the Indian authorities.
14/07/14 Shereen El Gazzar/The National
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Mohammed Qazi said the airport is being hamstrung by delays on the part of Indian authorities processing paperwork that would enable flights to India by Air Arabia, which has succeeded the defunct RAK Airways as the emirate’s flagship carrier.
Before the India delay, RAK airport had expected 250,000 to 400,000 passengers to pass through its gates this year.
Mr Qazi says the delays mean the lesser of those figures is the airport’s new target.
“Of course, the 250,000-400,000 passengers that were expected was based on the route to India. If this doesn’t happen, we will expect 250,000 passengers,” he said.
He added, “It has been five months since we applied [for approvals]. It shouldn’t take this long.”
Air Arabia started operations from RAK airport on May 6 with the launch of flights to seven cities. Calicut in India was part of its operating plan, but it is still waiting necessary approvals from the Indian authorities.
14/07/14 Shereen El Gazzar/The National
