A substantial growth in the operations of the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman was seen after the completion of the Khareef Dhofar season of 2026 due to effective deployment of their fleet and better network connections. Oman Air Khareef Expansion
During the period from mid-June to mid-September, the company managed to transport 270,000 passengers to various destinations within its Salalah network. This performance was an increase in the number of passengers by 9 percent when compared to the same period during 2025. There was an increase of 16 percent in the seat capacity of the southern network of the airline. This performance shows strong consumer demand and strategic scheduling done to capitalize on the seasonal trend.
The carrier performed best in the earlier part of the season, with the month of June seeing the biggest jump of 24 percent. To accommodate the peak summer influx in August, flight frequencies were ramped up to 15 daily operations targeting Salalah, utilizing wide-body Boeing 787-9 aircraft to maximize passenger intake on high-density sectors.
Strategic international connections further bolstered regional traffic into the Governorate of Dhofar. In July, Oman Air inaugurated a direct route connecting Dubai and Salalah with three weekly frequencies, unlocking over 4,900 supplementary seats per month. Dedicated charter services from Bahrain were also introduced across July and August to capture GCC travel intent.
Chief Executive Officer Nasser Al Sharji emphasized that fortifying domestic linkages to key cultural and environmental hubs like Salalah remains a core strategic pillar for the airline. Supporting regional economic ecosystems through expanded air infrastructure continues to guide fleet allocation, particularly during high-demand cultural seasons.
Looking beyond the seasonal monsoon rush, the airline confirmed that operations on the Dubai–Salalah route will remain active year-round. Additionally, feasibility assessments are underway to evaluate potential network expansions, alongside active negotiations aimed at reinstating charter services connecting Moscow with Salalah to capture winter long-haul leisure travel, ultimately ensuring sustained economic benefits for the local tourism sector throughout the entire calendar year. Oman Daily Report
