DRMuscat: Oman’s new Muscat International Airport officially opened on March 20. The first flight departed at 6:50 pm while the first arrival was at 5:30 pm on the day. Abdulaziz Al-Raisi, Acting Chief Executive, Oman Air, said the expansion had “long been anticipated” and would allow the carrier to expand further. Ahead of the grand opening, a number of trial flights were carried out, beginning on March 15.
“As a major stakeholder, our strategy is to support the anticipated growth in tourism and logistics and we are stepping up investment. In 2018, we have already announced the arrival of new aircraft, routes to North Africa, Russia and Europe, and an expansion of existing services.” He said that the new terminal would further facilitate the airline’s expansion, which will see Oman Air operate up to 62 aircraft to around 60 destinations by 2022.
Out of 10 carousels for bag handling, eight will be used for international flights. The decision to build a new airport was taken as research projected a 40 per cent increase in Oman’s number of visitors by 2019. Planning for the new $1.8-billion airport has spanned more than a decade but the first phase of construction began in December 2014, including a new runway, air traffic control tower and civil aviation building.
The grand opening marks the completion of the first phase of expansion which increases passenger capacity to 20 million – up from the previous 12 million passengers recorded in 2017. The airport will undergo further upgrades in three consecutive phases which aims to boost the number of passengers to 24, 36 and 48 million passengers respectively. Presently, the Muscat International Airport is ranked in the top 10 airports in the Middle East, with an average annual growth forecast of 8 per cent.
Oman Air’s premium and economy passengers will have separate entrances to the building, while a third area will be reserved for other airlines. The First Class lounge offers a personal chef, limousine service to the aircraft and relaxation rooms. The Business Class lounge has both snacks and full dining options, a quiet area, shower rooms, a children’s play area, wireless internet access and a business centre.
