Muscat, Sept 17 - With the opening of the new passenger terminal building at the Duqm Airport on Tuesday, Oman now has three full-fledged airports. Developed at a cost of RO 90 million, the first operational flight arrived at the airport from Muscat at 2:25 pm. There has been an increase in the number of passengers at Duqm Airport from 14,000 in 2015 to 24,000 in 2016 and 34,000 in 2017. It is expected to handle 45,000 passengers this year. Shaikh Aimen al Hosni, CEO, Oman Airports Company, said: “The Duqm Airport has come a long way — from a narrow airstrip in Jalunu to a full-fledged airport with all features like that of Muscat or Salalah airports, including aerobridges, check-in counters, Wi-Fi services and waiting lounges.”
He said, “Oman Airports’ team, which is currently in China, is actively promoting all the four airports in Oman, including Duqm.” He said talks with budget airline SalamAir are under way. The airline, he said, was probably examining the feasibility of commencing services in the future, but much will depend on the economic and demographic factors. Dr Mohammed bin Nasser al Zaabi, CEO, Public Authority of Civil Aviation (PACA), said the project was completed in over three phases, starting with the approach roads leading to the airport, runway, lightings and finally the Air Traffic Control (ATC) building and the passenger terminal building.
He said SalamAir and other international airlines are welcome to operate from the airport if they find it viable. Mustafa al Hinai, CEO, Oman Aviation Group (OAG), which is also the parent holding company of Oman Air, said the national airline will continue to operate services from Duqm irrespective of economic viability. “It is part of the national and social responsibility to promote Duqm as the next logistics hub in cooperation with the Duqm Special Economic Zone Authority.”
Vinod Nair
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