Muscat International Airport
International airport in Seeb, Oman

Muscat International Airport
مطار مسقط الدولي
Aerial view of Muscat International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorOman Airports
ServesMuscat
LocationSeeb, Oman
Opened1929; 97 years ago (1929)
Hub for
Elevation AMSL48 ft / 15 m
Coordinates23°35′36″N 058°17′04″E / 23.59333°N 58.28444°E / 23.59333; 58.28444
Websitewww.muscatairport.co.om
Maps
MCT is located in Oman
MCT
MCT
Location of airport in Oman
Interactive map of Muscat International Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
08R/26L 13,385 4,080 Asphalt
08L/26R 13,123 4,000 Asphalt
Statistics (2024)
Total passengers12.9M Increase
Total aircraft movements96,116 Increase

Muscat International Airport (IATA: MCT, ICAO: OOMS), formerly known as Seeb International Airport,[1] is the biggest and busiest international airport in Oman. It is located in the Seeb province, 32 km (20 miles) from the old city and capital Muscat within the Muscat metropolitan area. The airport serves as the hub for Oman Air, the flag carrier, and SalamAir, Oman's first budget airline. The airport serves flights to regional destinations as well as multiple intercontinental services to Asia, Africa, and Europe.

History

In 1929, Muscat's original airport, Bayt al-Falaj Airport, was established and became fully operational. It served as the capital's first airport and was known for sharp turns and steep descents. Airlines such as Gulf Aviation (later Gulf Air) and Oman International Services were its first users; however, it was mainly used for military purposes.[2] Additionally, it was regularly utilized by the Petroleum Development Oman Company for its aircraft, flying between Muscat and oil exploration fields in Fahud, Qarn Al Alam, and other locations.[3]

In the following decades, Bayt al-Falaj Airport eventually became too small for increasingly large airplanes, as well as being considered above-average dangerous, due to its steep approach, which was caused by the surrounding mountains. Consequently, a new airport with larger spaces to expand operations was required to be constructed. After the government reviewed several locations for the new airport, it eventually chose Seeb village as the optimal; therefore, the airport was built in its present location. Oman's ruling royal family, the Al Bu Said dynasty, awarded the Netherlands Airport Consultancy (NACO) the design contract and responsibility of supervising the construction. Additionally, the contract to construct the runway, taxiways, and aircraft stands was granted to the Greek construction company Joannou & Paraskevaides.[4]

The airport was ceremonially opened as Seeb International Airport on 1 January 1973.[5] In the initial years, it had a single operational terminal building that served both arrivals and departures, and only two check-in and immigration desks. In the mid-1970s, the airport was later night-rated.[3]

In the 1980s and 1990s, the former terminal was extended with new facilities. A new terminal was built to house arrivals and immigrations as well as transfers. Subsequently, a new cargo terminal was also constructed.[6]

In the past, the airport has hosted Royal Air Force BAe Nimrods, including the military aircraft that were used during the Gulf War in 1991. These aircraft cooperated with the Royal Navy of Oman in the 'Magic Roundabout' exercise series.[7] The base was used by a detachment of Vickers VC10 tankers from No. 101 Squadron RAF during the Gulf War training with Royal Air Force SEPECAT Jaguars.[8]

On 1 February 2008, the airport was given its present name.[1]

Facilities

Overview

The airport spans an area of 2,200 hectares (5,500 acres). It originally featured one passenger terminal building and one runway, as well as minor cargo and maintenance facilities. Part of the airport complex extension featured housing for airport employees and Oman Air employees. During the expansion, a new terminal and control tower were built along with a new runway. The current terminal makes Muscat airport the biggest airport in the country. Its construction started in 2007, and the airport opened in 2018. Moreover, the newly built facilities include a VIP terminal for private jets as well as an on-site airport hotel.[9]

The airport is also a joint-use military and public facility, acting as the base of operations for both the Royal Flight of Oman and the Royal Air Force of Oman. A Royal Terminal and Royal Flight hangars are located adjacent to the old terminal.[6]

In 2019, the Aaronia AARTOS C-UAS drone detection system was installed at the airport's premises, making Muscat International Airport the first international airport in the world to possess an operational drone detection system.[10]

Terminals

New Terminal 1

Departures at Terminal 1
Terminal 1 (new terminal)

The airport's newer and significantly larger terminal, located north of the existing terminal and first runway, opened in 2018. This new building initially expanded the airport's capacities to serve up to 20 million passengers a year upon completion of the first phase.[11] Subsequent enlargements under the second and third phases will increase the airport capacity to 24 and 48 million annual passengers, respectively.[11] The terminal covers 580,000 m2 (6,200,000 sq ft) and features 118 check-in counters, ten baggage reclaim belts, 82 immigration counters, 45 gates, and a new, 97 m-high (318 ft) control tower. The new terminal is situated between the old and new runways and is capable of handling large aircraft such as Airbus A380s and Boeing 747s.[12] The terminal opened on 18 March 2018, with the first flight, an Oman Air flight from Najaf, arriving at 6:30 p.m.[13]

Departure Concourse at Terminal 1

Old Terminal 2

Terminal 2 is a single-building, two-story, T-shaped passenger terminal. Built in 1970, it opened in 1973 as a replacement for the Bait al-Falaj airport and has been expanded several times over the last years to cater for growing passenger numbers.[14] This terminal featured 58 check-in counters, 23 departure gates, four baggage reclaim belts, and several service counters and shops.[14] A new pier was constructed in 2007, with additional shops, restaurants, and outlets, opening in 2009. During its years of operation, passengers and crew were transported to and from the aircraft using shuttle buses as the terminal offered no jet bridges.[15]

The last international flight to depart from the old terminal was an Oman Air flight to Zurich, Switzerland, while another Oman Air flight bound for Salalah became the last domestic flight.[13] The old facility was planned to be redeveloped into a low-cost carrier terminal,[16] but was instead turned into a field hospital and COVID-19 vaccination site ever since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.[citation needed]

Runways and airport aprons

The airport features two runways: the original Runway 08R/26L and the second Runway 08L/26R, situated north of the new terminal building and inaugurated on 14 December 2014. Both runways are equipped to accommodate large aircraft, including the Boeing 747-8, Airbus A380, and the Antonov An-225. The original runway, situated between the new and the former passenger terminal, underwent closure in 2015 for refurbishment and expansion,[17] aligning with the construction of a completely new main terminal building and an airport apron area. The refurbishment of the original runway was finalized in October 2023, and it officially resumed operations in November 2023.[18]

The old terminal's apron features 32 stands[14] on both sides of the T-shaped passenger terminal building, with 30 new ones constructed in two phases[12] in front of the new terminal building, of which several were already in use as of September 2016.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights to and from Muscat:

AirlinesDestinations
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi,[19] Cairo,[20][21] Sharjah[22]
Air India Express Delhi,[23] Kannur,[23] Kochi,[23] Kozhikode,[23] Mangaluru (resumes 1 March 2026),[24] Mumbai–Shivaji,[23] Thiruchirapalli,[23] Thiruvananthapuram[25]
Biman Bangladesh Airlines Dhaka
China Eastern Airlines Beijing–Daxing[26]
Egyptair Cairo[20]
Emirates Dubai–International[27]
Ethiopian Airlines Addis Ababa[28]
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi[29]
Fly Cham Damascus[30]
Flydubai Dubai–International[27]
Gulf Air Bahrain[31]
IndiGo Hyderabad,[32] Kochi,[33] Mumbai–Shivaji[34]
Iraqi Airways Baghdad,[35] Najaf[35]
Kish Air Chabahar/Konarak[36]
Oman Air Abu Dhabi,[37] Amman,[37] Amsterdam,[38] Baghdad,[39] Bahrain,[37] Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi,[37] Bengaluru,[37] Cairo,[37] Chennai,[37] Copenhagen,[a][40] Dammam,[37] Dar es Salaam,[37] Delhi,[37] Dhaka,[37] Doha,[37] Dubai–International,[37] Frankfurt,[37] Goa–Mopa,[37] Hyderabad,[37] Istanbul,[37] Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta,[37] Jeddah,[37] Karachi,[37] Khasab,[37] Kochi,[37] Kozhikode,[37] Kuala Lumpur–International,[37] Kuwait City,[37] London–Heathrow,[37] Lucknow,[37] Manila,[37] Medina,[37] Milan–Malpensa,[37] Moscow–Sheremetyevo,[37] Mumbai–Shivaji,[37] Munich,[37] Paris–Charles de Gaulle,[37] Phuket,[37] Riyadh,[37] Rome–Fiumicino,[37] Salalah,[41] Singapore (resumes 2 July 2026),[42] Taif (begins 31 January 2026),[43] Thiruvananthapuram,[44] Zanzibar,[37] Zurich[45]
Seasonal: Malé,[37] Trabzon[37]
Pakistan International Airlines Islamabad,[46] Karachi[47]
Pegasus Airlines Istanbul–Sabiha Gökçen[48]
Qatar Airways Doha[49]
Qeshm Air Tehran–Imam Khomeini[50]
Red Wings Airlines Seasonal charter: Sochi[51]
SalamAir Abha,[52] Baghdad,[52] Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi,[52] Bengaluru,[52] Beirut,[53] Chennai,[54] Chittagong,[55] Colombo,[56] Damascus (begins 2 May 2026),[57] Dammam,[58] Dhaka,[59] Doha,[60] Duqm,[61] Hyderabad,[62] Islamabad,[63] Jaipur,[62] Jeddah,[64] Karachi,[65] Kozhikode,[62] Kuwait City,[66] Lahore,[67] Lucknow,[62] Masirah Island,[68] Medina,[69] Medan (begins 3 July 2026),[70] Multan,[71] Mumbai–Shivaji,[72] Nairobi,[73] Peshawar,[74] Riyadh,[75] Salalah,[76] Sharjah,[77] Shiraz,[78] Tehran–Imam Khomeini,[79] Vienna (begins 24 June 2026)[80]
Seasonal: Almaty,[81] Phuket,[82] Prague,[83] Sarajevo,[84] Trabzon[85]
Sepehran Airlines Mashhad,[86] Tehran–Imam Khomeini,[87]
Taban Air Shiraz[88]
Turkish Airlines Istanbul[89]
US-Bangla Airlines Chittagong,[90] Dhaka,[91] Sylhet[92]
Varesh Airlines Tehran–Imam Khomeini[93]

Accidents and incidents

Statistics

Aerial view of the entire airport showing the new terminal in the center with the old facilities on top
Terminal 2, the former main building
Oman Air Airbus A330-300s parked on the apron of the old terminal. Until the opening of the new terminal, there were no jetbridges available.
Annual passenger and freight total[95]
Year Passengers Freight in MT Aircraft movements
2020 4,085,499 Decrease 109,806 Decrease 35,188
2019 16,038,844 Increase 240,285 Increase 117,601
2018 15,392,095 Increase 212,764 Increase 118,698
2017 14,061,732 Increase 200,852 Increase 114,360
2016 12,031,496 Increase 180,332 Increase 103,326
2015 10,315,358 Increase 154,868 Increase 103,915
2014 8,709,505 Increase 121,368 Increase 92,347
2013 8,310,927 Increase 120,667 Increase 90,223
2012 7,546,716 Increase 112,306 Increase 81,486
2011 6,479,860 Increase 98,085 Increase 78,650
2010 5,752,017 Increase 96,696 Increase 79,710
2009 4,558,002 Increase 63,764 Increase 66,872
2008 4,001,393 Decrease 57,887 Decrease 58,346
2007 4,219,000 Decrease 76,448 Decrease 49,806
2006 4,778,000 Increase 97,908 Increase 49,901
2005 4,071,000 Increase 76,563 Increase 52,781
2004 3,461,000Increase 67,151 Increase 43,622
2003 2,886,000 Increase 48,630 Increase 42,330
2002 2,447,000 Decrease 46,934 Decrease 39,555
2001 2,700,992 Decrease[96] 71,830 Increase[96] 35,064[96]
2000 2,721,393[96] 69,696[96] 36,082[96]

Ground transport

Oman National Transport Company (Mwasalat) operates 24-hour service special airport buses at fixed intervals. The Route A1 operates between Mabela and Ruwi bus station with a stop at Muscat Airport. Bus Route 8 (Al Mouj-Al Khuwair) also has a stop at Muscat Airport. Metered-airport taxis are available with special counters at the baggage and arrival halls. Car rental and chauffeur services are also available.[97]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The plane carries out a technical stop in Baghdad.

References

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