Salalah International Airport
{{Short description|Airport in Oman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Salalah International Airport
| image = SLLLogo.png
| image-width =
| image2 = Neuer Tower.jpg
| image2-width =
| IATA = SLL
| ICAO = OOSA
| pushpin_map = Oman
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of airport in Oman
| pushpin_label = SLL
| pushpin_label_position = right
| type = Public
| owner = Government
| operator = OAMC
| focus_city =
| location = Ar Rubat Street (13.9 km from Salalah City)
| elevation-f = 73
| elevation-m =
| coordinates = {{Coord|17|02|20|N|54|05|32|E|type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| website = [https://salalahairport.co.om/ salalahairport.co.om]
| metric-elev =
| metric-rwy = y
| r1-number = 07/25
| r1-length-f =
| r1-length-m = 4000
| r1-surface = Asphalt
| stat-year =
| stat1-header =
| stat1-data =
| stat2-header =
| stat2-data =
| footnotes = Source: GCM{{GCM|OOSA}} Google Maps{{cite web |title=Salalah International Airport |url=https://www.google.com/maps/@17.03669,54.08664,9007m/data=!3m1!1e3 |website=Google Maps |accessdate=31 January 2019}}
}}
Salalah International Airport {{airport codes|SLL|OOSA}} is the Sultanate of Oman's secondary international airport after Muscat International Airport. It is located on the Salalah coastal plain in the Dhofar Governorate, {{convert|5.5|km|mi}} northeast of Salalah's city centre. The airport features flights to regional destinations as well as a few intercontinental charter services from Europe. The airport recently won the Skytrax 5-Star Regional Airport Rating for its excellence in management and service.
History
=Early years=
File:Oman. Dhofar 1972 (8626836339).jpg]]
An airfield was established at Salalah in 1935 by the British Royal Air Force for operations in support of the Sultan of Oman.{{cite web |url=https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/online-exhibitions/an-enduring-relationship-a-history/royal-air-force-operations-in-oman.aspx |title=Royal Air Force Operations in Oman, 1918-1939 |author= |date= |website=www.rafmuseum.org.uk |publisher=Royal Air Force Museum |access-date=14 May 2020 }} Aircraft based there operated during the Jebel Akhdar War between 1954 and 1957, and the Dhofar War between 1962 and 1976. The British presence at RAF Salalah ended in 1977.{{cite web |url=https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/online-exhibitions/an-enduring-relationship-a-history/oman-and-the-cold-war.aspx |title=Oman and the Cold War |author= |date= |website=www.rafmuseum.org.uk |publisher=Royal Air Force Museum |access-date=14 May 2020 }}
Salalah Airport opened as a civilian facility in 1977. Initially, it only handled domestic flights from Muscat and a few chartered flights to UAE or Qatar. Oman Air Services (OAS) began services to Salalah in 1982 and the inaugural flight of Oman Air arrived from Muscat in April 1993.{{cite web |url=https://www.omanair.com/uk/about-us/corporate-information/history |title=History |publisher=Oman Air |date= |accessdate=2015-03-02 |archive-date=19 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119092616/https://www.omanair.com/uk/about-us/corporate-information/history |url-status=dead }} Co-located with the civilian airport is a military airbase of the Royal Air Force of Oman called RAFO Salalah.
In 2003, Salalah Airport got the status of an international airport. Oman Air began scheduled services to Dubai from Salalah in 2003, leading to increased passenger traffic while other Gulf carriers operated flights only during the Khareef season. The following year, Air India commenced operations to Kozhikode and then to Cochin, making it the first airline to operate non-seasonal international flights to Salalah.{{cite web |url=http://www.omanairports.com/salalah_airhistory.asp |title=Your Gateway to Oman |publisher=Omanairports.com |access-date=2015-03-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902045547/http://www.omanairports.com/salalah_airhistory.asp |archive-date=2 September 2013 |df=dmy-all }} Since 2003, the airport experienced increases in passenger traffic and civilian aircraft traffic.{{cite web|url=https://www.omanairports.co.om/Page.aspx?PGID=34&Tab=business&Salalah=True |title=Oman Airports |publisher=Oman Airports |date= |accessdate=2015-03-02}} The area is a popular tourist destination for both local citizens and foreigners, especially from July to September when the Asian monsoon touches the region commencing the start of the Khareef season, making it an unusually attractive location within the normally arid Gulf region. Currently is considered the second most important airport in the country.
=Development since the 2000s=
In 2011, planning and construction began for the new state-of-the-art Salalah Airport. The move was made by the Ministry of Transport and Communication to further boost the city's tourism sector as well as to cater to the growing number of passengers flying to-and-from the city. Deals were signed with more than 20 different construction companies{{cite web|url=http://main.omanobserver.om/node/89106 |title=New Salalah airport to handle 2 million passengers |access-date=11 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506104452/http://main.omanobserver.om/node/89106 |archive-date=6 May 2012 }} to complete the International Airport in deals worth $854 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-18950-muscat-airport-terminal-ready-by-end-of-2013/ |title=Muscat Airport terminal ready by end of 2013 |publisher=ConstructionWeekOnline.com |date=2012-10-09 |accessdate=2015-03-02}} COWI A/S-Larsen Joint Venture had been the main consultant on the project, which was later taken over by HILL INTERNATIONAL LLC.{{cite web |url=http://www.cowi.com/menu/project/RailwaysRoadsandAirports/Airports/Pages/salalah-international-airport-oman.aspx |title=COWI - Salalah International Airport, Oman |access-date=11 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524024417/http://www.cowi.com/menu/project/RailwaysRoadsandAirports/Airports/Pages/salalah-international-airport-oman.aspx |archive-date=24 May 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}
The Salalah Airport is planned to cater to one million passengers in the first phase. Also the construction of a second, 4-km runway is scheduled for the new airport.{{cite web |url=http://www.cowi.com/menu/project/RailwaysRoadsandAirports/Airports/Pages/salalah-international-airport-oman.aspx |title=Salalah Airport, Oman |publisher=COWI |date= |access-date=2015-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524024417/http://www.cowi.com/menu/project/RailwaysRoadsandAirports/Airports/Pages/salalah-international-airport-oman.aspx |archive-date=24 May 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} The airport's current runway will also be expanded to cater to the largest of aircraft, as well as the construction of a new parallel taxiway to the north.{{cite web|url=http://www.larsen.co.om/sia.html |access-date=11 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319022744/http://www.larsen.co.om/sia.html |title=Salalah International Airport, Salalah|archive-date=19 March 2011 }} The international airport will also feature a 65,000 sqm passenger terminal building with car parking for up to 3,000 vehicles and a 57-meter high ATC Tower.
Design of the airport takes into account future development projects and allows expansion to cater for up to six million passengers per year, if required.{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofoman.com/innercat.aspx?detail=13902 |access-date=11 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101233854/http://timesofoman.com/innercat.aspx?detail=13902 |title= Oman's airports offer opportunities |archive-date=1 November 2012 }}
The new Salalah airport commenced operations in June 2015, with an Oman Air flight from Muscat becoming the first airline to arrive at the new airport. However, the new airport was officially opened in November 2015. The old airport situated to the south of the new one has since been transformed into a domestic and emergency airport.
Facilities
The new international airport has been marked as having more extraordinary facilities than the old airport.{{cn|date=March 2025}} A new Duty Free service has been started by a private company in association with the OAMC. Many food counters have been providing services since its opening. Oman Air placed a new lounge opposite to the airside and gates in the new terminal for Business Class, First Class, and Economy Class passengers who are Gold and Silver Sinbad Service Card holders. The airport has a rating from passengers that it is providing an effective lounge and Duty-Free services.{{cn|date=March 2025}} The new airport has four aerobridges with an air conditioning facility. It is expected that the new terminal will help to boost not only the city's tourism but also the local and international passenger movement.{{cn|date=March 2025}}
Airlines and destinations
{{Airport-dest-list
| Air Arabia| Abu Dhabi,{{cite web|url=https://aaco.org/media-center/news/aaco-members/air-arabia-abu-dhabi-introduces-flights-to-salalah#arContent|title=AACO | Air Arabia Abu Dhabi introduces flights to Salalah}} Sharjah
| Air India Express| Kochi,{{cite web|url=https://centreforaviation.com/news/air-india-express-to-resume-cochin-salalah-service-from-apr-2023-1192202|title=Air India Express to resume Cochin-Salalah service from Apr-2023|work=CAPA|accessdate=21 March 2023}} Kozhikode
| Belavia | Seasonal charter: Minsk{{cite news |title=Charter flights from Minsk to Salalah to start February 27 |url=https://news.by/eng/news/obshchestvo/charter-flights-from-minsk-to-salalah-to-start-february-27 |access-date=13 January 2025 |work=news.by |agency=BelTeleRadioCompany |date=10 January 2025 |language=ru}}
| Centrum Air | Tashkent{{cite news |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=Centrum Air Adds Tashkent – Salalah Schedule From late-Oct 2024 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241009-c6nw24sll |access-date=10 October 2024 |work=AeroRoutes |date=10 October 2024 |language=en-CA}}
| Edelweiss Air | Seasonal: Zurich{{cite web | url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240623-wknw24mena | title=Edelweiss Air NW24 MENA Network Expansion }}
|Etihad Airways|Seasonal: Abu Dhabi{{cn|date=August 2024}}
| Flydubai | Dubai–International
| Flynas| Seasonal: Riyadh{{cite web |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=flynas S20 Network Expansion |url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/289864/flynas-s20-network-expansion/ |website=Routesonline |accessdate=26 February 2020}}
|Gulf Air|Seasonal: Bahrain{{cn|date=August 2024}}
|Jazeera Airways|Seasonal: Kuwait City{{cite web|url=https://www.thearabianstories.com/2022/03/07/jazeera-airways-to-begin-operations-to-salalah/ |title=Jazeera Airways to begin operations to Salalah - The Arabian Stories News |publisher=Thearabianstories.com |date=2022-03-07 |accessdate=2022-05-30}}
|Kuwait Airways| Seasonal: Kuwait City{{cite web |last1=Casey |first1=David |title=Manchester, Madrid and Moscow Among Kuwait Airways' Network Additions |url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/297473/manchester-madrid-and-moscow-among-kuwait-airways-network-additions/ |website=Routesonline |access-date=1 February 2022}}
|SalamAir| Abu Dhabi,{{cite web|url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/283061/salam-air-network-expansion-in-s19/ |title=Salam Air network expansion in S19 |publisher=Routesonline |date= |accessdate=2020-05-22}} Jeddah,{{cite web |last1=Karp |first1=Aaron |title=Oman's SalamAir To Commence Service To Four Indian Cities |url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/297808/omans-salamair-to-commence-service-to-four-indian-cities/ |website=Routesonline |access-date=30 March 2022}} Kuwait City, Muscat, Sohar
Seasonal: Fujairah,{{cn|date=April 2025}} Prague{{cite web | url=https://timesofoman.com/article/117525-salamair-to-launch-direct-flights-to-5-new-destinations | title=SalamAir to launch direct flights to 5 new destinations }}
|Saudia| Seasonal: Jeddah,{{cn|date=April 2025}} Riyadh{{cn|date=April 2025}}
|Smartwings| Seasonal charter: Bratislava{{cite web | url=https://www.hydrotour.sk/dovolenky#/stat/1/cestujuci | title=Hydrotour }}
|Wizz Air| Seasonal: Abu Dhabi{{cn|date=April 2025}}
}}
Statistics
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline|Salalah Airport|Salalah International Airport}}
- [https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=13/17.0282/54.0883 OpenStreetMap - Salalah]
- [https://www.salalahairport.co.om Salalah Airport Information]
- {{ASN|OOSA}}
- [http://paca.gov.om/uploads/source/Montly%20Statical%20Report%20-%20September%202016.pdf Traffic Statistic Sep 2016]
- [https://www.paca.gov.om/files/statistics/monthly-summary-2018.pdf Traffic Statistic 2018 Salalah & Muscat]
- [https://www.motc.gov.om/Ann/2017En/E-Annual%20Report.pdf Annual Report 2017 MOTC for Reference]
{{Portalbar|Oman|Aviation}}
{{Airports in Oman}}
{{authority control}}