Oman’s Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) wants a Class A rating from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for Muscat International Airport, the Muscat Daily has reported.
“We will have two runways that can be used simultaneously, 118 check-in counters for departures will be set up along with 60 counters for arrivals. We will be able to process 5,500 bags per hour,” Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, CEO of PACA, reportedly said about the planned upgrades at the airport. He also said that the air traffic control tower will be rebuilt and a 90-room airport hotel will be added.
According to Oman Airports Management Company, these expansions will be carried out in three phases and with each phase the airport’s annual capacity will increase to 24 million, 36 million and 48 million passengers.
“Muscat airport may have one or two low-cost carriers in the future. We’re also in talks with potential helicopter service operators and are looking at executive aviation options,” Aufi said about increasing operators. “We’re planning to conduct a survey on amphibious aircraft used in the Maldives because we feel areas like the Musandam peninsula and Masirah Island have the potential for their use.”
PACA is also expanding five other airports in Oman, all of which are due to be completed by the end of 2015.
“It will initially accommodate one million passengers and the capacity can be raised to six million passengers,” Aufi said about Salalah airport, which will also get a new runway. “There will be uniformity in design. Airports such as Adam, Sohar, Ras al Hadd and Duqm will all have similar features.”