The number of arrival and departure passengers through Muscat International Airport (including transit and transfer passengers) has increased by 8 per cent during the first eight months of the current year to 2,956,102 passengers compared to 2,729,462 passengers for the same period of the year 2008.

Statistics issued by Oman's Directorate General of Safety and Aviation Services at the Transport and Communications Ministry showed that the number of arrival and departure passengers through Muscat International Airport has increased by 5 per cent ending August 2009 compared to the same period last year.

The statistics also pointed out that the arriving passengers at Muscat International Airport ending August 2009 has increased by 3 per cent to 1,333,914 passengers ending August 2009 comparing to 1,163,518 passengers for the same period of the year 2008. The number of departing passengers has increased by 7 per cent to 1,101,647 passengers ending August this year compared with 1,030,881 passengers for the same period of the year 2008.

The increase in arrival and departure traffic into Muscat International Airport is attributed to the increase in the number of flights to to Muscat International Airport.

In terms of air cargo traffic at Muscat International Airport, Aviation Statistics indicate a marginal increase in the total unloaded and loaded freight by 1 per cent ending August 2009 with total shipment (39,340 tons), compared to (38,789 tons) in the same period in 2008.

Salalah Airport has witnessed a marginal increase in the total number of arriving and departing passengers by 1.14 per cent to 293,128 passengers for the first eight months of 2009 compared to 289,834 passengers for the same period in 2008.