The growth of civil aviation sector in Oman

Haider Al Lawati -

haiderdawood@hotmail.com -

No one denies that the civil aviation sector in Oman has witnessed tangible developments through multiple projects to provide important and necessary services to keep abreast with the developments in the aviation industry by utilising state-of-the-art technologies aiming at connecting the Sultanate to the outside world.

The transport and communication sector receives major interest in the country by all agencies concerned due to its key role in the development of socioeconomic sectors.

On these developments Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications, told in an interview: “It is no secret that the Sultanate’s strategic geographical location as a meeting point between the East and the West for international airlines gives it a special edge.”

Thus, air traffic through the Omani airspace witnessed a growth of 1,400 flights per day.

The number of aircraft flying through Oman’s airspace up to the end of 2015 reached 4,88,209, a 13 per cent increase compared to the 4,39,206 flights during 2014.

Average monthly proceeds of flights in the Sultanate’s airspace exceeded RO 3 million by the end of 2015, emphasizing the dire need for air traffic development in the Omani airspace, to enhance the growth of national economy sectors.

As for investment opportunities in this sector are concerned, the Public Authority for Civil Aviation is gaining ground in releasing as much investment opportunities as it can in the aviation sector in the Sultanate, in order to attract the private sector to make earnings and in line with its economic diversification policy to take part in diversifying sources of non-hydrocarbon income in the country.

He pointed out that in 2015, the door was open for investors to apply for a budget airline permit, and the winning bid went to a SalamAir which was announced in 2016.

The Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) also issued a preliminary approval for SalalahAir and Sharqiya Air to obtain Permit B for airline operators in general aviation in the fields of (private jets, airfare). These airlines will hopefully boost domestic air traffic between Salalah, Duqm and Sohar airports.

Further, the government is combining efforts with PACA to strengthen civil aviation and aerial transport relations with the rest of the world by signing bilateral agreements that contribute in boosting air traffic to and from Oman’s airports, whether by national or global carriers, in a way that encourages and serves economic, commercial and tourist exchanges.

It is well known that the Sultanate has signed 90 agreements in the field of organising aerial transport services with many countries. These agreements are aimed at organising the operational process of airlines between Oman and the rest of the world.

In fact, the Sultanate has already negotiated with 18 countries in 2015, and new agreements were signed in the field of aerial transportation.

Existing agreements were also amended in line with the latest developments in aerial transport disciplines, and a number of bilateral MoUs were signed to include new operational rights for national carriers of Oman and those countries to boost air traffic and attract international airlines to operate to and from the Sultanate’s airports.

In addition, PACA is continuing its efforts into signing more agreements with many countries to boost air traffic between Oman and the rest of the world, taking into account the development of aerial transport in general by attracting international airlines to operate to and from the Sultanate.

We also cannot overlook the growth of passenger traffic through the expansion carried out by Oman Air in its fleet which expected to increase to nearly 70 aircraft by 2020. This is considered a major step in boosting passenger traffic at Omani airports.

Data indicates that Oman Air currently dominates over 60-75 per cent of air traffic at Muscat International Airport and Salalah Airport. Statistics show an increase of passenger numbers at both airports.

The number of travellers at Muscat airport, including transfers and transits increased during the last few years.

This increase in the number of arrivals and departures at the airport is attributed to the increase in flights operated by various airlines. We expect more developments in the aviation industry once the new Muscat International Airport becomes operational.