MUSCAT: The 2025 Khareef Dhofar season witnessed unprecedented demand for air travel between Muscat and Salalah, with seats fully booked throughout the peak period. The surge in bookings reflects the growing popularity of Dhofar as a premier tourism destination and underscores the increasing role of the aviation sector in supporting Oman’s national economy. Both Oman Air and Salam Air operated flights at full capacity, demonstrating the strong appeal of this seasonal tourism movement and the reliability of air transport services during high-demand periods.
Hamed bin Ahmed Al Barashdi, Official Spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), highlighted that passenger demand consistently outpaced available seats, signaling strong potential for further investment in the aviation sector. Operational data revealed that Oman Air maintained load factors exceeding 90 percent on most days and reached 110 percent on certain peak days, indicating exceptional passenger turnout and the efficiency of flight operations during the Khareef season. The capacity increase from 12 to 14 daily flights between Muscat and Salalah ensured that the majority of travelers were accommodated despite overwhelming demand.
Salam Air also experienced notable growth in operational capacity, doubling its daily flights from 4 to 8 during peak times. Load factors on some days reached 100 percent and exceeded 125 percent in select instances, demonstrating the airline’s flexibility in meeting demand and managing passenger volumes effectively. The total daily passenger traffic for round trips reached 4,000 at the height of the season, highlighting the critical contribution of the civil aviation sector to tourism growth in Dhofar and its capacity to handle peak seasonal surges efficiently.
The CAA spokesperson emphasized that the results of the 2025 autumn season reflect coordinated efforts to balance operational capacity with increasing passenger demand. High load factors exceeding 110 percent on certain days underscore the sector’s responsiveness and ability to adapt to evolving travel patterns. The Civil Aviation Authority continues to focus on regulatory oversight, safety, and efficiency while supporting the expansion of air transport services, thereby ensuring that Oman’s aviation infrastructure remains robust and capable of sustaining tourism development in Dhofar and beyond.
