Sharjah International Airport reports that it handled more than 16,000 tonnes of cargo in April, down on the 19,081 tonnes registered in same month in 2014, which continues the monthly downward trend this year.

The Sharjah Airport Authority says the airport also processed around 1,761 tonnes of sea-air cargo, and explains that freight was affected by the global economic slowdown.

April was the second busiest month for the airport so far in 2015, but a monthly fall once again this year compared to 2014. In January this year, the airport handled 13,106 tonnes of cargo, which was a fall on the 16,038 tonnes in the same month in 2014. In February, it processed 13,549 tonnes, a drop  on the 16,295 tonnes handled in February 2014.  In March, the airport processed 16,332 tonnes, down on the 18,432 tonnes in the same month last year.

Sharjah International Airport’s total cargo for quarter one (Q1) of this year was significantly down on Q1 in 2014. In Q1 2015, it handled 42,987 tonnes, which was a decline on the 51,000 tonnes in Q1 in 2014.

Sharjah Airport Authority chairman, Ali Salim Al Midfa, says while cargo was down, there are down the number of aircraft movements is up and he has “confidence in the continued growth” at Sharjah International Airport.

Last year, the airport handled more than 237,250 tonnes of cargo, and it said when releasing its figures for 2014, that the total was impacted by global cargo downturn trends.

The busiest month in 2014 was May when the airport handled 28,263 tonnes of cargo. The second busiest month was June when 27,761 tonnes were handled. The quietest months were December with 15,358 tonnes, February with 16,295 and January 16,318.