Oman Aviation Report: The New Muscat International Airport

Built at a cost of USD 5 billion, the Muscat International Airport is packed with state-of-the-art facilities, and a range of lounge options.

- Vishal Jolapara

At the official opening of the new Muscat International Airport Terminal 1, all eyes were on Oman's emerging aviation segment. Built at a cost of USD 5 billion, this large state-of-the-art terminal, north of the old Terminal 2 actually commenced operations on March 20, 2018. The new terminal is a sea change from the old with an initial yearly capacity of 20 million passengers which can be expanded to 56 million passengers per annum. There are 118 check-in counters, 22 departure immigration counters and 9 e-gates, 40 arrival immigration counters and 16 e-gates, and ample retail, food and beverage outlets.

The new terminal has 40 aerobridges through 29 contact stands with two Code F gates capable of handling the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 747-8. There are 10 baggage reclaim belts (eight for International and two for domestic) with a capacity of 5200 bags/hour.

INFRASTRUCTURAL FEATURES

Chief Executive Officer of Oman Airports, Aimen bin Ahmed Al Hosni gives an insight into the capacity expansion plans of the new Muscat International Airport, “The initial capacity of 20 million passengers is just Phase I of our project as we currently have 15 million annual passengers. We will move to Phase II which is an annual capacity of 40 million when the passenger numbers hit 18 million. Phase III will see an annual capacity of 70 million and Phase IV have an annual capacity of 100 million.”