Expanded Direct Flights from Oman: How New Destinations Can Elevate Your Business Opportunities
Muscat: Major stakeholders in Oman’s aviation sector are focusing on enhancing direct flights to and from Muscat, moving beyond the traditional role of the city as merely a transit hub.
As part of this initiative, Oman Air recently launched direct services to Copenhagen, operating through Baghdad starting December 20. This marks the airline’s first direct connection with both countries, thereby strengthening the ties between the Middle East and Europe through the use of the fifth freedom of the air.
Additionally, SalamAir has initiated ticket sales for its non-stop service between Muscat and Vienna, creating the first scheduled air link between Oman and Austria. This service is set to commence on June 24, 2026, and will operate three times a week, utilizing an A321 aircraft.
The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) has identified China as a key market for inbound tourism, especially given the recent visa exemption policies. China Eastern Airlines will increase its flight frequency based on future load factors, reinforcing this strategic focus.
Oman Air further announced the launch of direct flights between Muscat and Singapore, beginning July 2, 2026. This new route will enhance accessibility to Southeast Asia, with flights scheduled four times a week on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Following its entry into the oneworld alliance, Oman Air aims to leverage this partnership to tap into passenger traffic from countries like Australia, Japan, and Hong Kong.
Mike Rutter, Chief Commercial Officer, stated, "Our plan over time is to exploit the membership of oneworld to create a much wider range of destinations, and with the support of our oneworld partners, it will be financially sustainable."
Oman Air has also partnered with Fun & Sun to improve direct access between Moscow and Salalah. The airline’s ongoing commitment to point-to-point growth has resulted in a more than 50% increase in passenger numbers arriving in Oman since the start of its transformation efforts, with projections indicating an additional RO90 million in annual economic activity over the next five years.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has approved regular scheduled flights by Oman Air to Baghdad, Copenhagen, Taif in Saudi Arabia, and Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow. SalamAir recently launched a direct route to Abha in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Oman Airports is actively pursuing strategies to attract more foreign airlines to operate in the Sultanate. Eng. Ahmed Al Amri commented, "We have an aggressive plan to attract new airlines to Oman, contingent on demand. We are working to stimulate the market from both ends to establish demand. Our discussions with operators from various countries are aimed at securing both charter and scheduled flights based on demand."
Regarding target markets, Al Amri highlighted the importance of China, as well as Eastern Europe and Russia. He emphasized that the launch of China Eastern services is just the start, expressing a desire to increase flight availability not just from Beijing but other major Chinese cities.
The CAA has signed several bilateral air transport agreements in 2025, bringing the total to 130, including 84 "open-sky" agreements, as of November 2025. Recent accords include partnerships with the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Zambia, Cabo Verde, Syria, and Côte d’Ivoire, bolstering connectivity and aligning with Oman Vision 2040’s logistics and trade objectives.
Passenger traffic through Oman’s airports—including Muscat, Salalah, Sohar, and Duqm—increased by 1.6% until the end of October 2025, with total passengers reaching 12,353,007, compared to 12,153,212 during the same timeframe in 2024.
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
The recent expansion of direct flights from Oman signifies a strategic shift towards reinforcing the Sultanate’s position as a central travel hub rather than merely a transit point. For businesses, this creates new opportunities in tourism and logistics, with potential annual economic activity increases of up to RO90 million forecasted. Smart investors should consider leveraging this growth by exploring partnerships with airlines and tourism operators to tap into expanding markets, particularly in China and Eastern Europe.
