Oman's airport passenger traffic declines 6.7% to 10.4 million by September

Muscat: Passenger traffic through Oman's airports declined by 6.7 per cent to 10.43 million by the end of September 2026, compared with 11.18 million passengers during the corresponding period in 2025, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The total number of international flights arriving at and departing from Muscat, Salalah and Sohar airports reached 60,387, down 8.4 per cent from 65,918 flights a year earlier.

Muscat International Airport handled 9.07 million passengers, a decline of 7.2 per cent compared with 9.77 million passengers during the same period last year. The airport recorded 64,938 international and domestic flights, down 6.5 per cent from 69,439 flights.

Indian nationals accounted for the largest number of arrivals and departures at Muscat International Airport in September, totalling 141,896 passengers. This included 79,539 arrivals and 62,357 departures.

Omani nationals ranked second with 116,161 passengers, comprising 60,537 arrivals and 55,624 departures, followed by Bangladeshi nationals with 50,423 passengers, including 28,174 arrivals and 22,249 departures.

Salalah Airport recorded 1.31 million passengers by the end of September, down 2.8 per cent from 1.35 million during the corresponding period of 2025. However, flight movements increased marginally by 0.1 per cent to 8,682, compared with 8,670 a year earlier.

At Sohar Airport, passenger traffic fell 12.2 per cent to 16,290, against 18,557 passengers in the same period last year. The airport handled 204 international and domestic flights, down 2.9 per cent from 210.

Duqm Airport recorded 440 domestic flights, a decline of 4.3 per cent from 460 flights in the corresponding period of 2025. Passenger numbers decreased by 5.3 per cent to 42,701, compared with 45,083 passengers a year earlier.