Muscat – Passenger traffic through Oman’s airports decreased 6.7% in 2025 till  the end of February with a total of 2,535,246 travellers recorded, compared to 2,717,835 during the same period in 2024, according to preliminary data released by National Centre for Statistics and Information.

Muscat International Airport handled 2,280,280 passengers in the first two months of the year – down 7.5% from 2,463,856 passengers during the same period last year. The number of flights also dropped 11% from 16,996 in 2024 to 15,133 this year.

In contrast, Salalah Airport recorded a 5.4% increase in passenger numbers to 244,590 by the end of February, up from 232,077 a year earlier. However, flights to and from the airport fell 8.1% to 1,444 compared to 1,572 in 2024.

Sohar Airport experienced the sharpest decline, with flight numbers down 74.5% – 28 flights were recorded in 2025 till the end of February compared to 110 during the same period in 2024. Passenger traffic plummeted 98% from 11,410 last year to just 226 this year.

At Duqm Airport, a marginal drop was recorded in both passenger and flight numbers. The number of passengers fell 3.3% to 10,150, while flights decreased 3.8% to 100 from 104 in 2024.

In terms of nationalities using Muscat International Airport, Indian nationals topped the list with a total of 146,418 passengers – 75,510 arriving and 70,908 departing. They were followed closely by Omanis with 145,060 passengers (82,244 arriving and 62,816 departing), and Pakistani nationals with 47,781 passengers (24,876 arriving and 22,905 departing).