Oman has witnessed a significant surge in passenger traffic through its airports, with numbers soaring by 21.8 percent by the end of February 2024 compared to the same period last year. Preliminary statistics from the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI) reveal a robust increase in passenger numbers from 2.23 million passengers in February 2023 to 2.71 million passengers in February 2024.
Muscat International Airport
Leading Oman’s airport traffic growth is Muscat International Airport, where passenger numbers surpassed 2.46 million by February 2024, marking a substantial 22.9 percent increase. This surge was accompanied by a notable rise in flight operations, with 16,996 flights recorded, representing a 16.4 percent uptick. Of these flights, 15,678 were international, carrying 2.29 million passengers, while 1,318 were domestic, carrying 175,737 passengers.
Among the diverse array of passengers traveling through Muscat International Airport, Indians emerged as the top nationality in February 2024. With 75,521 arrivals and 70,951 departures, Indian travelers dominated the airport’s traffic. Bangladeshi nationals came second with 15,867 inbound and 20,980 outbound passengers. Meanwhile, Pakistani travelers comprised 23,803 arrivals and 21,740 departures.
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Salalah Airport
Oman’s Salalah Airport also experienced a notable uptick in passenger traffic, with numbers reaching 232,077 passengers, reflecting a 10.1 percent increase compared to February 2023. This growth was supported by a rise in flight operations, with 1,572 flights recorded, marking a 6.1 percent increase. Besides, international flights constituted 840 flights, accommodating 115,060 passengers, while domestic flights reached 732, serving 117,017 passengers.
Other airports in Oman also witnessed an influx of passengers. Sohar Airport saw 11,410 passengers traveling on 110 flights, while Duqm Airport served 10,492 passengers across 104 flights. Although smaller in scale compared to Muscat and Salalah, these airports play a significant role in catering to the nation’s growing travel demands.
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