Saturday 19 / September / 2026
Muscat: Oman’s civil aviation sector recorded a significant increase in passenger and flight movements during the Dhofar Khareef Season 2026, with Salalah Airport handling 686,808 arriving and departing passengers between June 1 and August 31.
The airport recorded a total of 5,148 arriving and departing flights during the period, including 2,561 arriving flights and 355,045 arriving passengers. The number of arriving flights increased by 4 percent compared with the same period last year.
Passenger traffic rose steadily throughout the season, with 92,735 travellers in June, increasing to 236,088 in July and reaching 357,985 in August.
Flight movements followed a similar trend, rising from 957 arriving and departing flights in June to 1,854 in July, before reaching 2,337 flights in August.
The figures highlight the close integration between the aviation and tourism sectors during the Khareef season, when the sharp increase in tourism demand translates directly into higher passenger and flight movements.
The Civil Aviation Authority said the growth also demonstrates the sector’s capacity to accommodate substantial seasonal changes in demand, while underscoring the importance of continuing to improve operational efficiency and the ability of the air transport system to support rising passenger and flight numbers.
Hamed bin Ahmed al Barashdi, official spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority, said the results recorded during the 2026 Khareef season reflect the growth in travel and the need for greater integration among the various components of the civil aviation sector to efficiently manage the seasonal increase in passengers and flights.
He said the Authority, in its regulatory and supervisory role, is working to provide the necessary regulatory environment for the growth of air traffic, monitor safety requirements and ensure the smooth flow of air traffic.
The Authority also supervises air navigation and meteorological services and coordinates with various entities operating in the sector to strengthen the efficiency of Oman’s air transport system and its ability to meet growing demand.
Al-Barashdi stressed the importance the Authority attaches to enhancing the efficiency of the civil aviation sector, noting that air transport is a key enabler of tourism, supports economic activity and strengthens connectivity between Oman’s governorates and regional and international destinations.
