Salalah Airport to receive over 2,670 flights during Khareef 2023

Salalah Airport is preparing to receive more than 2,670 scheduled flights during the Khareef season 2023, of which 1,456 are domestic and 1,223 are international from June 21 to September 21 of this year.

In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), Eng. Zakariya bin Yaqoub Al Harasi, Executive Vice President of Oman Airports Company at Salalah Airport confirmed that the royal directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik – may God protect him – to provide direct subsidies in fuel prices at Salalah Airport, equivalent to fuel prices at Muscat International Airport indicates the keenness of His Majesty, and his vigorous follow-up to revitalise travel and tourism in Dhofar Governorate.

He added: ”It is hoped that air traffic at Salalah Airport will increase, following the directives of His Majesty, through the number of flights for the current operators or the operation of other airlines to Salalah Airport, in addition to increasing the competitiveness between civil flights and air freight.”

Al Harasi pointed out that Salalah Airport is preparing this year, in cooperation with strategic partners, to receive tourists for the autumn tourism season for 2023. The airport will receive 1077 direct flights from the capitals and cities of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

He explained that Salalah Airport will receive 536 direct flights from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through several Emirati airlines from the airports of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, with 87 flights for Wizz Airlines Abu Dhabi and 93 flights for Air Arabia from Abu Dhabi Airport, which will also operate 175 direct flights from Sharjah Airport. Meanwhile, flydubai will operate 181 direct flights arriving from Dubai Airport.

The airport will receive 188 flights from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for the Saudi Flynas company, coming from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Buraidah, in addition to 270 direct flights for Qatar Airways coming from Hamad International Airport in the State of Qatar, and 83 direct flights from Kuwait Airport in the State of Kuwait, with 57 flights for Kuwaiti Jazeera Airways and 26 direct flights by Kuwait Airways, in addition to its readiness to receive 40 flights by Air India Express and 54 flights by Pakistan Air.

The Executive Vice President of Oman Airports Company at Salalah Airport confirmed that the airport is witnessing an active movement by the national carrier “Oman Air”, as well as the economic carrier in the Sultanate of Oman “Salam Air”, in addition to charter flights for tourists from European countries, that are operated annually in the winter season.

He explained that the airport recorded, until the end of January 2023, a significant increase in the number of international and domestic flights, by 43.1 percent, as the number of flights through the airport reached 774 flights, transporting 105,719 passengers. He stressed that the Dhofar Governorate is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Arabian Gulf Countries during the summer season due to its diverse natural elements, exceptional climate, terrain and environmental diversity.

It is worth noting that Salalah Airport recently received international awards and certifications from the Airports Council International (ACI) as the best airport in the Middle East in the category of less than two million passengers.

This is in addition to the airport receiving the award for easiest travel procedures as well as the cleanest airport in the Middle East in the same category. Airport staff won the award for the most dedicated staff at airports in the Middle East.

The airport also maintained its classification in the five-star category within the Skytrax International Awards for this year in the category of airports under two million passengers, due to the level of facilities provided, the extent of passengers’ impression of traveling through it, the cleanliness of the building, shopping and food, as well as staff service, security and passports.