Oman Airports See Passenger and Flight Traffic Decline by Mid-2026

Passenger and flight traffic at airports in the Sultanate of Oman experienced a decline by the end of June 2026. The total number of passengers, including arrivals, departures, and transit, reached 6,276,117. This figure represents a 9.3% decrease compared with the 6,921,569 passengers recorded during the corresponding period in 2025. This full data, encompassing both arrivals and departures, was released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

Further analysis from the NCSI indicates a similar trend in flight movements. International flights at Muscat, Salalah, and Sohar airports also saw a significant reduction, totaling 38,203 by the end of June 2026. This figure marks a 10.7% decrease from the 42,778 international flights observed in the same period of 2025, noting a broader downturn in air travel activity across the Sultanate's major international gateways.

Airport Traffic Details

Muscat International Airport, the country's primary aviation hub, experienced an 8.3% decline in its total number of flights, including both international and domestic services. The airport recorded 41,022 flights by the end of June 2026, a notable reduction from the 44,743 flights recorded during the same period in 2025. This decrease in flight activity was mirrored in passenger numbers. Passenger traffic at Muscat International Airport also decreased by 8.8%, totaling 5,688,276 passengers by the end of June 2026. This is a significant drop from the 6,233,954 passengers who passed through the airport in the corresponding period of 2025. The decline reflects a challenging period for the airport's operations and passenger volume.

Salalah Airport, a key gateway to the southern region, registered a 12.8% decrease in its total number of flights. By the end of June 2026, the airport handled 3,945 international and domestic flights. This is a considerable reduction from the 4,526 flights recorded during the equivalent period of 2025. The airport's passenger numbers also fell sharply, decreasing by 14.6% to 561,532 by the end of June 2026. This contrasts with the 657,209 passengers recorded during the same period in 2025, indicating a substantial contraction in travel to and from the region.

Sohar Airport, serving the industrial northern region, saw its total number of flights, covering international and domestic routes, decline by 9.5% to 76 by the end of June 2026. This represents a reduction from the 84 flights recorded in the corresponding period of the previous year. Passenger traffic at Sohar Airport experienced an even more dramatic drop of 45.8%, with only 182 passengers by the end of June 2026, down from 336 passengers during the same period last year. This sharp decline points to a significant reduction in demand for air travel through Sohar.

Smaller Airports Performance

Duqm Airport, serving the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, also reported a downturn in its operations. The airport recorded a 10.5% decline in its total number of domestic flights, reaching 274 by the end of June 2026. This figure is down from 306 domestic flights handled during the corresponding period in 2025. The airport also experienced a reduction in passenger numbers. The total number of passengers at Duqm Airport decreased by 13.1%, totaling 26,127 by the end of June 2026. In the equivalent period of the previous year, Duqm Airport processed 30,070 passengers, noting a consistent trend of decreased activity across various Omani airports.

Passenger Demographics

Focusing on passenger demographics during June 2026 at Muscat International Airport, Indian nationals represented the largest group of travelers, totaling 173,156. This figure included 76,271 arrivals and 96,885 departures. Omani nationals ranked as the second-highest demographic, with 125,560 passengers passing through the airport. Among Omani travelers, 54,222 were arrivals and 71,338 were departures. Bangladeshi nationals constituted the third-largest group, accounting for 47,822 passengers. This comprised 20,092 arrivals and 27,730 departures at Muscat International Airport during the same period, illustrating the diverse international passenger base utilizing Oman's main airport.