Oman international airports

Airports play a strategic role in the administration of a country’s affairs. Serving as gateways for international and global connectivity, airports are crucial for the transportation of important goods and the movement of people. Oman has numerous airports, but five of them play strategic roles in commercial and tourism sectors. While there are many airports in Oman, we aim to explain the important ones in this country.

Major Airports in Oman

Currently, Oman has five busy airports.

Muscat International Airport

This airport is considered one of the most advanced airports in the Middle East. Muscat Airport is also known as Sultan Qaboos Airport. Initially, due to its proximity to the Al-Seeb area, it was known as Seeb Airport, but in 2008 it was renamed Muscat Airport.

IATA Code: MCT
ICAO Code: OOMS
Muscat Airport

1. Area and Location
The airport covers an area of approximately 850 hectares and is located 10 kilometers from the center of Muscat, adjacent to the southern Mawaleh and Al-Seeb areas. The runway is 3584 meters long, allowing heavy aircraft to land and take off.

2. Terminals
The airport has two terminals.

International Terminal
This terminal plays a significant role in the development of the tourism industry. It spans over 500,000 square meters and handles over 12 million passengers annually. The terminal is situated between the airport’s two main runways.

Domestic Terminal
The domestic terminal significantly improves Oman’s transportation, primarily handling flights to Salalah in southern Oman.

3. Airport Facilities
To facilitate passengers’ needs and provide better services, the airport offers the following amenities:

Various restaurants
Cafes
Currency exchange
Bank
Post office
Various shops
Services for disabled and blind passengers
Parking
Baggage handling
Children’s playground

4. Airport Appearance
The airport features a beautiful garden adorned with native plants and trees. It also boasts elegant halls and terminals.

Green Wall
The Green Wall, or living wall, is the largest plant-covered wall in the Gulf countries. It nurtures 13 plant species and contains 24,000 plants.
Green Wall of the Airport

5. Airport Transportation
Muscat Airport has robust transportation links to the city, with a distance of about ten minutes to the city center.

You can easily rent a car to conduct your affairs in Muscat and enjoy the benefits of it. For more information on car rental in Muscat, click here.

Taxi

Taxis operate 24 hours a day, with approved fares. The final fare is influenced by distance and traffic, and the meter determines the rate. The approximate taxi fare from the airport to the city center is around 6 Omani Rials.

Bus

Muscat buses are available from 3 AM to 10:30 PM and are a more cost-effective option compared to taxis.

Ride-Hailing Services

Otaxi is a reputable company in the field of ride-hailing services, and you can easily use this application for your transportation needs.

Salalah Airport

Salalah is considered the second largest city in Oman and has many tourist attractions. The area’s pristine weather and nature attract a large number of tourists annually. Consequently, tourism has made Salalah Airport one of the important airports in Oman, managing a high volume of flights. Initially a military airport, it has been providing services since 1977, with its flight volume and facilities expanding over time. In 2003, it was recognized as an international airport, and Oman Air began operating flights between Salalah and Dubai.

IATA Code: SLL
ICAO Code: OOSA
Location and Area of Salalah Airport
This airport is located in the Dhofar province, which is in the southern part of Oman. Salalah Airport features a runway that is 3340 meters long and covers an area of about 66,000 square meters, showcasing its considerable size.

Flight Services

To enhance passenger comfort, the airport provides the following services:

Post office
Private DHL post
Car rental
Baggage handling
Terminal
The airport operates international flights to Iran, other Arab countries, and India, making it one of Oman’s key airports for international flights. The Salalah Airport terminal is modern and appealing to passengers.

You can purchase the best flight tickets between Tehran and Salalah, considering time and price, from Oman Air.

Airport Facilities

The airport has food order counters where passengers can complete their orders without waiting. For passengers with Sindbad Gold and Silver cards, there is an exclusive lounge for added comfort. The Sindbad card is provided to business and first-class passengers. Free Wi-Fi is also available for the convenience of passengers.

Currency Exchange

There is a currency exchange at the airport, making it easy to change money upon arrival or departure. It is important to note that Omani people generally prefer transactions in their local currency, so it’s advisable to have enough Omani Rials upon entering the country.

Numerous airlines operate at this airport, including:

Oman Air
Etihad Airways
Emirates
Qatar Airways
Mahan Air

Khareef Festival

Khareef is a local festival celebrated in Dhofar, attracting people from all over Oman and neighboring countries to Salalah. The airport experiences a significant increase in traffic during the festival, which starts in early June and lasts for several months.

Sohar Airport

Sohar is a northern city in Oman, located in the Al Batinah region. It is known as an industrial city and also has a significant transportation industry with heavy traffic.

The city also features a large shipping port, accommodating numerous ships annually.

Sohar Airport is one of the important airports in Oman, experiencing high traffic in both passenger and commercial flights.

Airport Specifications
Sohar Airport is located less than 10 kilometers from the coast and has a single runway. The runway is 120 meters long, accommodating most aircraft.

The airport was inaugurated by Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Salim Al Futaisi, Minister of Transport, in 2014.

The airport has one terminal with the capacity to handle over 500,000 passengers annually.

Flight Destinations

Sohar Airport is recognized as an international airport, with flights to many regional countries, primarily the UAE and Iran.

Flights from Iran typically operate between the cities of Qeshm and Shiraz.

Khasab Airport

Khasab Airport is known by the following names:

IATA Code: KHS
This airport serves both military and civilian purposes. Located in the Musandam Governorate, it is the only airport on the Musandam Peninsula.

The airport was inaugurated in 1975. Initially, it was used for military purposes until 1984, after which it has been continuously developed for civilian use.

Airport Specifications

Khasab Airport features a 2500-meter-long asphalt runway, capable of accommodating large aircraft.

The airport also has a well-equipped terminal offering:

Cafeteria
Restaurant
Duty-free shops
Airlines and Routes

The following airlines frequently operate at this airport:

Oman Air
Air Arabia
SalamAir

The main destinations from this airport include:

Muscat
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Sharjah
Qeshm

This airport serves as an excellent gateway for those intending to conduct business or visit, providing easy connections to various parts of the Middle East.

Conclusion

Oman has made significant improvements across various sectors in recent years, including its major airports. These enhancements cater to the tourism industry by continuously upgrading facilities to ensure passenger satisfaction and increasing the capacity to manage airport traffic efficiently.