Salalah Airport Records More Than 686,000 Passengers During Dhofar Khareef 2026

More Than 686,000 Passengers Travel Through Salalah Airport During Khareef

Muscat: The civil aviation sector in the Sultanate of Oman recorded increased passenger and flight traffic during the Dhofar Khareef Season 2026, with the total number of arriving and departing passengers at Salalah Airport reaching 686,808 between June 1 and Aug. 31.

During the same period, the airport recorded a total of 5,148 arriving and departing flights. Arriving passengers numbered 355,045, while arriving flights reached 2,561, representing a 4% increase compared with the corresponding period last year.

The increase highlights the role of the civil aviation sector in supporting tourism activity, facilitating visitor movement and strengthening the connectivity of tourist destinations in Oman with local, regional and international markets.

Passenger traffic increased steadily throughout the season, reaching 92,735 travellers in June, 236,088 in July and 357,985 in August.

Flight activity also increased from 957 arriving and departing flights in June to 1,854 in July and 2,337 in August, bringing the total for the three-month period to 5,148 flights.

The figures highlight the integration between the aviation and tourism sectors during the Dhofar Khareef season, as rising tourism demand translates into increased passenger and flight activity.

They also underscore the importance of enhancing the efficiency and capacity of the civil aviation system to accommodate seasonal increases in travel and strengthen air transport’s contribution to tourism and economic activity.

Hamed bin Ahmed Al Barashdi, official spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority, said the results recorded during the 2026 Dhofar Khareef season reflect the continued growth in travel activity and the need for coordinated efforts across the civil aviation sector to efficiently manage increases in passenger and flight numbers.

In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), he said the Civil Aviation Authority, within its regulatory and supervisory role, works to provide an appropriate framework for the growth of air traffic, monitor safety requirements, ensure smooth air traffic operations, supervise air navigation and meteorological services, and coordinate with entities operating in the sector.

He added that the Authority places strong emphasis on improving the efficiency of civil aviation and its ability to accommodate growing travel demand, noting that air transport is a key enabler of tourism, supports economic activity and connects Oman’s governorates with regional and international destinations.