MUSCAT: The number of passengers traveling through airports in Oman dropped by 6.7 percent by the end of February 2025, totaling 2,535,246 passengers. This marks a notable decline from the 2,717,835 passengers recorded during the same period in 2024. The decrease is part of a broader trend observed in the early part of the year, reflecting shifts in travel behavior and possibly influenced by regional or international factors.
Muscat International Airport, the largest and busiest in the Sultanate, saw the biggest dip in passenger traffic. Industry analysts suggest that the decline could be linked to reduced international flight frequencies, changes in tourism patterns, or temporary travel restrictions. Additionally, several planned maintenance activities and airline schedule adjustments may have impacted passenger flow.
Salalah and Sohar airports also contributed to the overall drop, although on a smaller scale compared to Muscat. These airports, which primarily serve domestic and regional flights, reported modest declines in both arrivals and departures. Seasonal variations, particularly lower winter travel demand compared to previous years, were also highlighted as contributing factors to the downturn.
Officials from the Civil Aviation Authority are closely monitoring the situation and exploring strategies to boost air traffic in the coming months. This includes working with airline partners to restore or increase flight routes, launching promotional campaigns to attract tourists, and streamlining airport operations to improve service quality and passenger satisfaction.
