Muscat – Oman’s airports handled 9.31mn passengers by the end of August 2026, down 7.1% from 10.02mn during the same period last year, amid a contraction in passenger traffic across the Middle East.

International and domestic flight movements at the Sultanate of Oman’s airports also declined, with international arrivals and departures across Muscat, Salalah and Suhar airports totalling 53,716 by the end of August, down 8.8% from 58,890 in the corresponding period of 2025.

According to the latest data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), Muscat International Airport accounted for the largest share of passenger traffic, recording 8.10mn passengers, a decline of 7.5% from 8.76mn a year earlier.

The airport recorded 57,870 international and domestic flights by the end of August, down 6.7% from 62,007 during the same period in 2025.

In August, Omani nationals accounted for the largest share of passenger movements at Muscat International Airport, with 202,033 arrivals and departures. This comprised 111,360 arrivals and 90,673 departures.

Indian nationals ranked second, recording 145,720 passenger movements, including 77,001 arrivals and 68,719 departures. Bangladeshi nationals ranked third, with 42,050 movements, comprising 23,454 arrivals and 18,596 departures.

At Salalah Airport, flight movements declined 1.4% to 7,657 by the end of August, compared with 7,769 during the corresponding period last year. Passenger traffic fell 4.4% to 1.16mn from 1.21mn.

Suhar Airport recorded 188 international and domestic flights, down 6.9% from 202 a year earlier. Passenger traffic dropped 17.4% to 15,292, compared with 18,522 during the same period in 2025.

At Duqm Airport, domestic flight movements fell 7.3% to 380 by the end of August, against 410 in the corresponding period last year. Passenger traffic declined 9.3% to 36,443 from 40,173.

The decline in Oman’s airport traffic coincided with a sharp contraction in the Middle Eastern aviation market. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), passenger traffic carried by Middle Eastern airlines fell 14.6% year on year, compared with a 9.7% decline in July.

Capacity in the region decreased by 9.3% year on year, a smaller contraction than the fall in demand. Consequently, the passenger load factor — the proportion of available seats filled by passengers — dropped by 4.9 percentage points to 78.9%.