Salalah Airport in Oman recorded a significant increase in passenger and flight traffic during the Khareef season of 2026, transporting 686,808 passengers from June 1 to August 31.
Significant growth in flights and passengers
During this period, the airport registered a total of 5,148 incoming and outgoing flights, including 2,561 incoming flights and 355,045 incoming passengers. The number of incoming flights increased by 4 percent compared to the same period last year.
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Passenger traffic steadily increased throughout the season, reaching 92,735 passengers in June, 236,088 passengers in July, and 357,985 passengers in August.
Impact on the tourism and aviation industry
Flight movements showed a similar trend, increasing from 957 incoming and outgoing flights in June to 1,854 flights in July and finally to 2,337 flights in August.
These figures indicate a close relationship between the aviation and tourism sectors during the Khareef season, where a sharp increase in tourism demand directly leads to an increase in the number of passengers and flights.
Hamid bin Ahmed Al-Barashdi, the official spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority of Oman, stated that the results recorded in the Khareef season of 2026 reflect the growth of travel and the need for greater integration among various components of the civil aviation sector to effectively manage the seasonal increase in passengers and flights.
He added that the organization, in its regulatory and supervisory role, aims to create a legal environment for air traffic growth and oversee safety requirements to ensure the smooth flow of air traffic.
The organization also monitors air navigation services and meteorological services and collaborates with various entities active in this sector to enhance the efficiency of Oman's air transport system and increase its capacity to meet growing demand.
Al-Barashdi emphasized the importance of increasing the efficiency of the civil aviation sector, noting that air transport is a key factor in facilitating tourism, supporting economic activities, and strengthening connections between Oman's provinces and regional and international destinations.
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