SalamAir Establishes Salalah’s First-Ever Airline Base, Adds Three International Routes

Muscat: SalamAir, Oman’s Low-Cost carrier, has announced the establishment of Salalah’s first-ever airline base, marking a strategic milestone in the airline’s growth and significantly strengthening direct international connectivity from the Governorate of Dhofar.

The Salalah-based operation will initially serve three direct international destinations: Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Chattogram in Bangladesh, and Calicut in India. Bookings will open on 26 August 2026, with flights scheduled to commence from the end of October as part of SalamAir’s Winter 2026 schedule.

The establishment of the base builds on SalamAir’s strong support for travel to and from Salalah during the 2026 Khareef season and its contribution to the season’s success. In response to increased demand, the airline expanded capacity on the Muscat–Salalah route, operating up to 15 daily flights during the peak period and adding thousands of additional seats. SalamAir also supported affordable domestic travel through special fares for Omani nationals, with one-way fares starting from OMR 9.99, providing greater accessibility and travel options between Muscat and Salalah. These efforts supported the growing flow of visitors to Dhofar and reinforced SalamAir’s role in the tourism and travel ecosystem during one of the Sultanate’s most important tourism seasons.

Building on this momentum, the new base will extend SalamAir’s contribution beyond the Khareef season, supporting the year-round travel needs of residents and expatriate communities in Dhofar while providing more convenient direct access to key regional and international destinations.

The operation will be supported by SalamAir’s Airbus A320neo and A321neo fleet. The airline currently operates 18 aircraft, providing the capacity and operational flexibility to respond to growing demand across its markets.

Commenting on the announcement, Adrian Hamilton-Manns, Chief Executive Officer of SalamAir, said: “We are proud to turn our long-standing commitment to Salalah and the people of Dhofar into action. Over successive Khareef seasons, SalamAir has continued to increase capacity and provide affordable travel options to meet growing demand. Building on this strong track record, establishing Salalah’s first-ever airline base marks an important milestone. By positioning an aircraft in Salalah, we will strengthen direct international connectivity, provide greater travel choices for the community, and support Salalah’s continued growth as a year-round tourism and economic destination for Oman.”

During the winter season, SalamAir will also operate charter services connecting Salalah with Astana and Almaty in Kazakhstan, supporting inbound tourism from Central Asia and helping broaden Salalah’s appeal beyond its traditional peak season.

The Salalah base forms part of SalamAir’s wider growth strategy to expand its network from key airports across the Sultanate, serve underserved markets and stimulate new travel demand.

The initiative further supports the development of Oman’s aviation and tourism sectors while strengthening Dhofar’s links with international markets. Tickets for the new scheduled routes will be available through SalamAir’s website, mobile application and authorised travel partners.