The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) celebrated the 7th anniversary of the opening of Muscat International Airport and the 10th anniversary of the opening of Salalah Airport.
The airports
constitute two national pillars of the air transport system in Oman, reported ONA.
They boast state-of-the art infrastructure
compatible with the latest global standards and technologies.
While celebrating the
two airports’ anniversaries, the CAA affirms its mandate to develop a safe and
sustainable operating environment that enhances the competitiveness of the
civil aviation sector and the attractiveness of the Sultanate of Oman as a
leading regional aviation hub.
This approach is in
line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 in achieving balanced and
sustainable development.
Since its opening way
back on 11 November 2018, Muscat International Airport has developed into a
major hub in the system of air transport in Oman.
The airport occupies 11th position globally,
as it figures in the category of 15-25 million passengers a year.
Muscat International
Airport registered more than 1.06 million passengers during October 2025, compared
to 955,000 passengers in October 2024, posting a growth rate of 12 per cent.
In terms of air
traffic, Muscat International Airport maintained stability in the number of
flights during October 2025, during which it operated approximately 8,000
flights.
As part of the efforts
of its efforts to boost the efficiency of infrastructure and raise the
readiness of airports, the CAA opened southern runway project at Muscat
International Airport in 2024.
The project assumes significance due to the
fact that it meets the specifications set by the International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO) on enhancing international and domestic air traffic.
In 2024, Muscat
International Airport bagged a number of international awards, including “The
Best Airport in the Middle East” award for the category of 5-15 million
passengers a year, “The Best Staff in the Middle East” award, “The Easiest
Airport Journey in the Middle East” award and “The Cleanest Airport in the
Middle East” award.
Meanwhile, the 10th
anniversary of the opening of Salalah Airport’s building on 11 November 2015
celebrates the airport’s position as a major hub connecting Dhofar Governorate
with the rest of the governorates of the Sultanate of Oman and the world at large.
The airport stands out as a basic supporter of tourism in Dhofar Governorate.
Salalah Airport saw 15
per cent growth in passenger traffic during October 2025, during which it dealt
with more than 104,000 passengers, compared to 91,000 in October 2024.
Aircraft traffic at
the airport also rose by 8 percent in October 2025, compared to aircraft
traffic during October in 2024.
Salalah Airport
continues to excel in international rankings by maintaining its 5-star rating
from Skytrax since 2019, in addition to scaling up to 4th place globally in the
category of airports with less than two million passengers.
Salalah Airport won
five awards in 2024, including “The Best Airport in the Middle East” award for
the category of less than two million passengers, “The Easiest Airport Journey
in the Middle East” award, “The Best Staff in the Middle East” award, “The Cleanest
Airport in the Middle East” award and “The Most Enjoyable Airport in the Middle
East” award.