MUSCAT: Muscat International Airport has been selected as the Most Improved airport in the Middle East by Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the world’s airports.

“Muscat International Airport adds a global achievement within the Airport Service Quality in less than a year since the start of its commercial operations, as the Most Improved Airport – Middle East at 2018 ASQ Award. Well done Oman Airports,” Oman Airports tweeted.

Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Côte d’Ivoire, Silangit International Airport in Indonesia, Bergen Airport in Norway, Juan Santamaria International Airport in Costa Rica and Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada also have won the same award.

The $1.8 billion passenger terminal at Muscat International Airport commercially opened on 20 March 2018, has been designed and constructed to the highest standards of quality and service.

The airport features Omani-themed architecture, state-of-the-art technologies, and exceptional passenger experience.

Currently, Muscat International Airport has initial annual capacity for 20 million passengers, with expansion potential for 75 million passengers per annum.

Some of the key features of the 580,000sqm passenger terminal include three piers linked by a central area, 12,000sqm food & beverage area, an airside hotel with a capacity of 90 rooms, and two five-level car parks.

Additionally, a 32,000sqm cargo terminal was built as part of the airport, with a capacity of around 350,000 tons per year, with the potential to expand to 500,000 tons per year.

Currently, national carrier Oman Air operates up to 200 flights each day from the new terminal building.

Muscat International Airport had won the prestigious title of the World’s Leading New Airport in 2018.

The coveted accolade was announced during the 25th edition of the World Travel Awards hosted in Lisbon, Portugal.

Meanwhile, Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore, India, has won the first ever ASQ Arrivals Award, based on the new Arrivals Survey – it is the first airport in the world to win both a Departures and an Arrivals award.

Perennial winners from around the world include Indianapolis International Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport, Singapore Changi Airport, and Toronto Pearson,  Aeroporto di Roma-Fiumicino, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Delhi’s, Indira Gandhi International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and Sheremetyevo International Airport.

Founded in 1991, as of January 2019, ACI serves 646 members, operating 1,960 airports in 176 countries.