MUSCAT: The total number of passengers handled by Muscat International Airport grew by 9.6 per cent to 3.68 million in the first three months of this year, over the same period last year. The total number of international flights increased by 2.9 per cent to 25,789 from January till March, compared to 25,063 during the same period last year, according to the statistics released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).
The total number of international passengers from January-March stood at 3.40 million, which included 1.71 million arrival passengers, 1.68 million departures and transit passengers to the extent of 4,954. Domestic flights marginally increased by 0.6 per cent to 2,557 in the first three months, against 2,542 flights for the same period last year.
The total domestic passengers at the Muscat International Airport rose by 5.1 per cent to 277,799 in the first quarter of 2018, against 264,435 passengers for the same period last year. Domestic passenger arrivals rose by 5.3 per cent to 138,074, while domestic departures grew by 4.8 per cent to 139,725 passengers during January-March period, shows the report. However, the total number of passengers at Salalah International Airport marginally fell by 1 per cent to 330,725 during January-March period, against 333,699 for the same period last year. The total number of flights at Salalah airport declined by 13.7 per cent to 2,647 during the first quarter, against 3,067 for the same period last year, shows the report.
While the total number of international flights at Salalah airport declined by 25.9 per cent to 998 during January-March period, the total number of international passengers saw a fall of 10.4 per cent at 122,100 passengers. Domestic flights at Salalah airport stood at 1,649, comprising a drop by 4.1 per cent. Arrival passengers stood at 104,382, a decline by 5.2 per cent, whereas the departing passengers at 104,243, comprising an increase by 6.1 per cent. Meanwhile, Oman Air has announced that it will commence new daily flights from Muscat to Istanbul from June 1 as part of its fleet and network expansion programme.
The airline is offering fares starting from RO 99 for economy class, while the holidays’ division has also come up with packages offering tickets, hotel stay, airport transfers and excursions. Omanis travelling to Istanbul are eligible for visa on arrival. The new route comes ahead of other routes — to Casablanca and Moscow — set to launch in July and October this year respectively. The Istanbul service will be operated by a Boeing 737-800 and will depart daily from Muscat to Istanbul Atatürk International Airport.
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