Ever wondered which airport claimed the top spot globally? It is Muscat International Airport. Welcome.
Muscat International Airport stands as Oman’s primary gateway to the world. Formerly known as Seeb International Airport, it transitioned to its current name on February 1, 2008. Let’s explore its story together.
Originally, Muscat’s airport was Bayt al Falaj. It began operations in 1929. However, the need for expansion led to the construction of the current airport. It opened as Seeb International Airport on January 1, 1973. The late Sultan Qaboos bin Said himself inaugurated it on December 23 of the same year. His private plane was the first Omani-registered aircraft to land here.
The airport covers a vast area of 2,200 hectares. That is about 5,500 acres. It originally had one passenger terminal, one runway, and some cargo facilities. As air travel grew, expansions became necessary.
In 2007, a major expansion project began. It included a new terminal, a new control tower, and another runway. This expansion culminated in the opening of the new terminal in 2018. The new facilities also feature a VIP terminal for private jets and an onsite airport hotel.
Muscat International Airport is a joint-use facility. It serves both public and military operations. It also houses the Royal Flight of Oman and the Royal Air Force of Oman. You can find a Royal Terminal and hangars near the old terminal.
Interestingly, Muscat International Airport was the first in the world to install an operational drone detection system. This happened in 2019. The Aaronia AARTOS C-UAS system helps ensure safety.
The airport boasts two terminals. Terminal 1 is the newer, larger facility. It opened in 2018. It can handle up to 20 million passengers annually. Future expansions aim to increase this capacity to 24 and then 48 million. Terminal 1 has 118 check-in counters, 10 baggage reclaim belts, and 45 gates.
Terminal 2, the older terminal, opened in 1973. It has been expanded over the years. It has 58 check-in counters and 23 departure gates. Interestingly, passengers used shuttle buses to reach aircraft, as there were no jet bridges. The last international flight from Terminal 2 was an Oman Air flight to Zurich. It was repurposed into a field hospital and vaccination site during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Muscat International Airport features two runways. Both runways can accommodate large aircraft. These include the Boeing 747-8 and the Airbus A380. The original runway underwent refurbishment and reopened in November 2023.
Currently, 35 airlines operate from Muscat International Airport. These airlines connect Muscat to various destinations. Oman Air and Salam Air use Muscat as their hub.
In 2023, AirHelp ranked Muscat International Airport as the top airport globally. It received high scores for on-time performance, customer opinion, and shops.
Getting to and from the airport is easy. Oman National Transport Company provides 24-hour bus services. Taxis, car rentals, and chauffeur services are also available.
From its humble beginnings to its current status as a world-class airport, Muscat International Airport embodies Oman’s progress and vision.