Oman’s airports handled more than 9.3 million passengers by the end of August 2026, marking a 7.1% decline compared with 10.02 million passengers during the same period in 2025, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The latest data showed that international arriving and departing flights through Muscat, Salalah and Sohar airports totalled 53,716 by the end of August, down 8.8% from 58,890 flights recorded during the corresponding period last year.

Muscat International Airport handled 8.1 million passengers during the first eight months of 2026, representing a 7.5% decrease from 8.76 million passengers in the same period of 2025.

The airport recorded 57,870 international and domestic flights, down 6.7% from 62,007 flights a year earlier.

In August, Omani nationals accounted for the largest number of arriving and departing passengers at Muscat International Airport, totalling 202,033, including 111,360 arrivals and 90,673 departures.

Indian nationals ranked second, with 145,720 passengers, comprising 77,001 arrivals and 68,719 departures.

Bangladeshi nationals came third, with 42,050 passengers, including 23,454 arrivals and 18,596 departures.

Salalah Airport recorded 1.16 million passengers by the end of August, a 4.4% decline from 1.21 million during the same period last year.

The airport handled 7,657 international and domestic flights, down 1.4% from 7,769 flights in the corresponding period of 2025.

At Sohar Airport, passenger traffic fell 17.4% to 15,292 by the end of August, compared with 18,522 passengers a year earlier.

The airport recorded 188 international and domestic flights, a decrease of 6.9% from 202 flights during the same period in 2025.

Duqm Airport recorded 380 domestic flights in the first eight months of 2026, down 7.3% from 410 flights in the corresponding period last year.

Passenger numbers also declined by 9.3% to 36,443, compared with 40,173 passengers in the same period of 2025.

The figures reflect declines in passenger traffic and flight numbers across Oman’s airports during the first eight months of 2026, according to the NCSI data. -TradeArabia News Service