Muscat – Salalah Airport handled nearly 687,000 passengers during this year’s khareef season from June 1 to August 31, underlining the growing role of air connectivity in supporting Oman’s tourism peak.

A total of 686,808 arriving and departing passengers travelled through the airport during the period, while flight movements reached 5,148, according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The number of arriving passengers stood at 355,045, while arriving flights totalled 2,561, representing a 4% increase from the previous year.

The figures highlight the sharp seasonal surge in demand for travel to Dhofar as visitors from Oman and overseas head to the governorate during khareef, when its landscape is transformed by cooler temperatures, mist and rainfall.

Passenger traffic accelerated sharply as the season progressed. Salalah Airport handled 92,735 travellers in June, rising to 236,088 in July and 357,985 in August. Flight movements followed a similar pattern, increasing from 957 in June to 1,854 in July and 2,337 in August.

The CAA said the figures demonstrated the close relationship between aviation and tourism, with the khareef season providing a clear example of how tourism demand translates into increased passenger and flight activity.

The authority also stressed the need to continue improving the efficiency and capacity of the civil aviation system as seasonal demand grows.

Hamed bin Ahmed Al Barashdi, official spokesperson of the CAA, said the results reflected the growth in travel during the khareef season and the need for coordination across the various components of the aviation sector to manage the increase in passengers and flights efficiently.

He said the authority was working through its regulatory and supervisory role to provide an environment conducive to the growth of air traffic while maintaining safety requirements and ensuring the smooth flow of flights.

The seasonal figures underline the importance of Salalah Airport to Oman’s tourism strategy, particularly as Dhofar seeks to attract visitors from domestic, regional and international markets.

The CAA said aviation remained one of the main enablers of tourism and economic activity, linking Oman’s governorates with regional and international destinations.

The strong concentration of traffic in July and August also highlights the operational challenge posed by the highly seasonal nature of Dhofar tourism.

For airlines and airport operators, the khareef period requires capacity to expand rapidly within a relatively short window, while maintaining safety, passenger-handling standards and reliable air navigation services.