Travel Desk
Oman Airport Passenger Traffic Falls 7.1%
Passenger traffic through Oman airports dropped 7.1 percent to 9.3 million in the first eight months of 2026, led by a decline at Muscat International…
Passenger traffic through Oman airports fell 7.1 percent in the first eight months of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, according to data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). The total, including arriving, departing and transit passengers, reached 9.3 million by the end of August, down from 10.02 million during the corresponding period in 2025.
Muscat Drives Overall Decline
Muscat International Airport handled 8.1 million passengers in the first eight months of 2026, down 7.5 percent from 8.76 million in the same period of 2025. The decline at Oman’s main airport was slightly steeper than the nationwide fall over the period.
International and domestic flight movements at Muscat International Airport also decreased. The airport recorded 57,870 flights by the end of August 2026, a 6.7 percent decline compared with 2025.
In August 2026, Omani nationals were the largest nationality group among arriving and departing passengers at Muscat International Airport, with 202,033 passengers.
Regional Airports Also Weaken
Salalah Airport handled 1.16 million passengers by the end of August 2026, a 4.4 percent decrease from 1.21 million in the same period of 2025.
| Airport | Measure, January-August 2026 | Change from 2025 | January-August 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salalah Airport | 1.16 million passengers | Down 4.4 percent | 1.21 million passengers |
| Sohar Airport | 15,292 passengers | Down 17.4 percent | 18,522 passengers |
| Duqm Airport | 36,443 passengers | Down 9.3 percent | 40,173 passengers |
| Duqm Airport | 380 domestic flights | Down 7.3 percent | 410 domestic flights |
Sohar Airport recorded the steepest percentage fall in passenger traffic among the regional airports listed, with numbers dropping 17.4 percent to 15,292 from 18,522 a year earlier.
Duqm Airport handled 380 domestic flights during the first eight months of 2026, down 7.3 percent from 410 flights in the corresponding period of 2025, while its passenger numbers fell 9.3 percent to 36,443 from 40,173.
International Flight Counts Fall
International arriving and departing flights through Muscat, Salalah and Sohar airports totalled 53,716 in the first eight months of 2026, down 8.8 percent from 58,890 flights in the same period of 2025.