a day ago
Passenger traffic set to rise 37% at Salalah Airport
Salalah – With the 2025 khareef season beginning in Dhofar on Saturday, Salalah Airport stated that it is fully prepared to handle a sharp rise in passenger traffic, supported by 12 local and international airlines now operating flights to the destination.
Zakaria bin Yaqoub al Harrasi, Vice-President of Salalah Airport, said the airport expects passenger numbers and flight movements to increase significantly compared to last year owing to continued efforts to improve operations and streamline services.
Passenger traffic this season is forecast to exceed 900,000 – a 37% increase over the 692,626 travellers recorded in 2024. Harrasi said the surge reflects both the growing popularity of the khareef season in Dhofar and the expanded flight network serving the region.
Domestic travellers will make up the largest share with 62.5% of total arrivals, followed by GCC visitors at 35.7% and tourists from India at 1.8%.
Flight movements are also projected to climb 36% this season with more than 5,000 inbound and outbound flights expected, compared to 3,869 last year.
A highlight for 2025 is the addition of Saudia, which launched its first direct flight from Jeddah to Salalah on Wednesday. The airline will operate three weekly flights throughout the season, boosting air connectivity between Oman and Saudi Arabia and offering more options for travellers.
Harrasi added that Oman Airports continues to invest in digital services to enhance the passenger experience. Now in its second year, the Safar Aisr (Travel Easier) initiative has introduced self-service kiosks, pre-check-in services and dedicated information centres to reduce wait times and simplify travel procedures.
The facilities are part of a wider strategy to accommodate rising tourist demand during khareef and to promote Dhofar as a key summer destination in the region.
