Increased passenger traffic at Muscat Airports

The total passenger traffic (including transit & transfer passengers) through Muscat International Airport has increased by (10%) to (1,331,026) passengers for the period ending February 2013 compared to (1,208,603) passengers for the same period of 2012. Statistics issued by the Air Transport Department at the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) show an increase in the arrival passengers by (10%) to (683,906) passengers ending February 2013 comparing to (622,576) passengers for the same period of the year 2012. The number of departing passengers has also increased by (13%) to (635,442) passengers ending February 2013 compared to (564,377) passengers for the same period of the year 2012. The increase in arrival and departure traffic into Muscat International Airport is attributed to the increase of the number of flights to some airlines operating into Muscat International Airport, such as Oman Air, Biman Bangladesh Air and Turkish Airlines. In terms of air mail traffic at Muscat International Airport, aviation statistics indicate an increase in the total unloaded and loaded mail by (43%), with total shipment (161 ton) compared to (113 ton) in the same period in 2012. Salalah Airport has witnessed an increase by (6%) in the total number of arriving and departing passengers to (107,366) passengers for the period ending February 2013 compared to (100,897) passengers for the same period of 2012. As for the movement of air cargo at Salalah Airport, freight traffic has recorded an increase in total unloaded and loaded freight, bringing the shipment to (19 ton) during January 2013 compared to (2 ton) in the same period in 2012.