Passenger traffic at airports across Oman declined notably during the first five months of 2026, according to data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). The total number of passengers passing through Muscat, Salalah, and Sohar airports dropped by 9.3 percent to 5.25 million, down from 5.79 million during the same period in 2025.

International flight activity also saw a decrease, with the combined number of flights at the three main airports falling 10.7 percent to 31,867 through the end of May, compared to 35,679 flights the previous year. When including both domestic and international movements, total aircraft operations declined by 8.2 percent to 34,242.

Muscat International Airport, the nation's busiest, managed 4.76 million passengers over the five-month period, down 8.5 percent from 5.21 million in 2025. The airport remained the primary hub, accounting for the largest share of traffic in the country. Indian nationals comprised the largest passenger segment in May, with 175,022 arrivals and departures, followed by Omanis at 80,732, and Pakistani nationals at 45,956.

Salalah Airport experienced a more pronounced decline, seeing passenger numbers fall 15.9 percent to 468,797 from 557,298 a year earlier. Correspondingly, flight movements at Salalah decreased by 13 percent to 3,234.

Sohar Airport, one of the smaller facilities, showed a significant reduction in traffic. Passenger numbers dropped by nearly half, 48.5 percent, to 173, compared to 336 in the first five months of 2025. Aircraft movements at Sohar also diminished by 39 percent, falling to 50 from 82.

Similarly, domestic operations at Duqm Airport weakened, with a 13.3 percent fall in flight movements to 222 and a drop in passenger numbers by 19.3 percent, totaling 20,476 compared to 25,371 the previous year.

The overall decline in passenger and flight movements across Oman's airports reflects a slowdown in air traffic during the first part of 2026, affecting both international and domestic travel sectors.