UAE's RAK International Airport has strengthened its management team with the appointment of Andrew Gower as airport director and Mohammed Qazi as commercial director.

The new appointments are in line with RAK International Airport’s mandate to expand its operations and services in 2012, a statement said.

Gower joins the team from Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport in the UK. Over an 11 year period at John Lennon Airport he held a number of roles including terminal services director, director of operations and airport director. He was responsible for the day to day running of the airport, ensuring it operated safely and securely whilst delivering a customer focused service.

Gower said: “Ras Al Khaimah is fast becoming a destination in its own right and is gearing up for a surge in tourist numbers over the next 12 months.  RAK International Airport will play a key role in supporting this growth.”

Qazi joins RAK International Airport from the UK, having previously worked across more than 13 UK airports including hub airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, and major regional airports such as Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cardiff.

In his most recent assignment, Qazi was responsible for the turnaround of the world’s largest ground handling business, Swissport, for Stansted Airport.

Qazi said, “I am extremely honored to be given the opportunity to assist in the growth of RAK International Airport.”

“These are exciting times, as the Airport prepares to unveil several major, new initiatives. Ras Al Khaimah and RAK International Airport have tremendous potential and our aim is to make RAK Airport an airport of choice for passengers, airlines and airport service providers around the world,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service