Italian Neos Launches Flights to Salalah: What This Means for Business and Tourism in Oman
The Italian airline Neos will launch a weekly flight service connecting Salalah with Rome, with a stopover in Milan.
Haitham bin Mohammed Al Ghassani, Director General of Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, highlighted that the collaboration between the Ministry and Oman Airports has successfully established strategic partnerships with international airlines. This development is anticipated to boost the local economy, advance the tourism sector in Dhofar Governorate, and foster new tourism cooperation opportunities between the Sultanate of Oman and Italy. The authorities are focused on diversifying tourism markets and enhancing the overall visitor experience.
Salalah Airport reported a 13.2 percent increase in passenger numbers, reaching 562,561 from June to August, compared to 496,936 passengers during the same period in 2024. Aircraft movements also rose by 10 percent, totaling 3,409 flights, up from 3,105 flights last year, underscoring the airport’s growing role as a key gateway to Dhofar.
Additionally, Swiss leisure airline Edelweiss Air has begun operating twice-weekly flights between Salalah and Zurich International Airport. According to Edelweiss Air’s official website, the airline will offer nine flights in October, eight in November, and nine in December. These services will continue through May 2026, with flights resuming again in September next year.
Neos was founded on June 22, 2001, as a joint venture between the Italian tour operator Alpitour S.p.A. and the German TUI Group. The airline commenced revenue flights in March 2002. In January 2004, Alpitour acquired full ownership by purchasing all shares from the TUI Group, making Neos a wholly owned subsidiary of Alpitour.
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The launch of Neos’ weekly flights between Salalah and Rome via Milan, alongside Edelweiss Air’s service to Zurich, signals a strategic expansion in Oman’s connectivity with key European markets, enhancing Dhofar’s appeal as a premier tourist destination. For businesses, this opens new avenues in hospitality, retail, and tourism services, while smart investors should consider capitalizing on the expected tourism influx and infrastructure growth. However, maintaining service quality and sustainable tourism growth will be critical to managing this opportunity effectively.
