SalamAir has established Salalah’s first airline base, opening direct links to Jeddah, Chattogram and Calicut as Oman seeks stronger year-round tourism and connectivity across Dhofar and key markets.
WEBDESK – OMAN OBSERVER – SHARJAH NEWS
MUSCAT, Oman — SalamAir has established an airline base in Salalah, a move aimed at strengthening international connectivity from Oman’s Dhofar Governorate and supporting the southern region’s transition toward a year-round tourism destination.
The Oman-based low-cost carrier said its Salalah operation will initially connect the city directly with Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Chattogram in Bangladesh and Calicut in India. Bookings opened Aug. 26, with services scheduled to begin from the end of October under the airline’s Winter 2026 schedule.
The new base represents a significant expansion of SalamAir’s presence in Salalah, following increased demand for air travel during the 2026 Khareef season. During the peak period, the airline operated as many as 15 daily flights between Muscat and Salalah and added thousands of seats to accommodate travelers heading to Dhofar.
SalamAir also introduced special domestic fares for Omani nationals, with one-way tickets starting at OMR 9.99, as part of efforts to make travel between Muscat and Salalah more accessible.
The airline said the Salalah base will allow it to extend its contribution beyond the seasonal Khareef period by providing more direct travel options for residents, expatriate communities and visitors throughout the year.
The operation will be supported by SalamAir’s Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft. The carrier currently operates a fleet of 18 aircraft, giving it additional capacity to expand services and respond to demand across its network.
Adrian Hamilton-Manns, chief executive officer of SalamAir, said establishing the base was an important step in the airline’s long-term commitment to Salalah and Dhofar.
By positioning an aircraft in Salalah, the airline expects to increase direct international connectivity, broaden travel choices and support the city’s development as a year-round tourism and economic destination.
The carrier will also operate seasonal charter services from Salalah to Astana and Almaty in Kazakhstan during the winter period. The services are designed to encourage inbound tourism from Central Asia and help diversify Salalah’s visitor base beyond the Khareef season.
The new base forms part of SalamAir’s broader network expansion strategy, which focuses on developing services from key airports across Oman, serving underserved markets and generating new travel demand.
For Dhofar, the initiative could provide stronger links to major regional and international markets while supporting tourism, business travel and the wider local economy.
SalamAir said tickets for the new scheduled routes are available through its website, mobile application and authorized travel partners.
