MUSCAT: Airports in Oman, especially those in Muscat, Salalah and Suhar, recorded a remarkable growth in the movement of international flights as the Khareef season kicked off this year.
In the past two years, air traffic in Oman was considerably low compared to the years before the pandemic. But since the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) lifted all COVID-19 precautionary measures and procedures across all airports in Oman, there a spurt in the number of travellers, ergo the increase in air traffic.
According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), Salalah Airport is seeing an increase in traffic as the Khareef season continues in the Dhofar Governorate. Up to August 13, there were around 315,000 passengers who arrived at Salalah Airport.
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Salalah Airport recorded an increase in the number of flights (international and domestic) in 2022 by 68.9%, reaching 2,743 flights until the end of May 2022, compared to the same period in 2021, according to statistics issued by the NCSI.
The Salalah Airport’s Executive Vice President, Salim bin Awad Al Yafei, stated in a statement that “195 planes were arriving and departing each week.” According to the official, the Khareef season has seen a significant increase in tourism to the Dhofar Governorate because of its diversified environment, which includes an extraordinary climate, terrain, and natural richness.
The number of arriving passengers via Oman’s airports (including transit passengers) saw a 135% increase to 3,045,519 by the end of May 2022, while the number of departing passengers grew by 94% compared to the corresponding period in 2021.
By the end of May 2022, Oman airports recorded a growth of 113 per cent, reaching about 20,640 international flights which arrived and departed from here.
Statistics issued by NCSI also showed that international flights that made connections via Muscat, Salalah and Suhar airports grew by 113% to 20,640 by the end of May 2022, as against 9,679 international flights during the corresponding period in 2021.
The overall number of flights (internal and international—arrivals and departures put together) via Muscat International Airport grew by 90.2% to 21,930 at the end of May 2022. These flights carried as many as 2,628,203 passengers, compared to 1,235,740 passengers carried onboard 11,533 flights during the corresponding period in 2021.
