Muscat International Airport (IATA:MCT,ICAO:OOMS), formerly known asSeeb International Airport,[1] is the biggest and busiestinternational airport inOman. It is located in theSeeb province, 32 km (20 miles) from the old city and capitalMuscat within the Muscat metropolitan area. The airport serves as thehub forOman Air, theflag carrier, andSalamAir, Oman's first budget airline. The airport serves flights to regional destinations as well as multiple intercontinental services to Asia, Africa, and Europe.
In 1929, Muscat's original airport,Bayt al-Falaj Airport, was established and became fully operational. It served as the capital's first airport and was known for sharp turns and steep descents. Airlines such asGulf Aviation (laterGulf Air) andOman International Services were its first users; however, it was mainly used for military purposes.[2] Additionally, it was regularly utilized by the Petroleum Development Oman Company for its aircraft, flying between Muscat and oil exploration fields in Fahud, Qarn Al Alam, and other locations.[3]
In the following decades, Bayt al-Falaj Airport eventually became too small for increasingly large airplanes, as well as being considered above-average dangerous, due to its steep approach, which was caused by the surrounding mountains. Consequently, a new airport with larger spaces to expand operations was required to be constructed. After the government reviewed several locations for the new airport, it eventually chose Seeb village as the optimal; therefore, the airport was built in its present location. Oman's ruling royal family, theAl Bu Said dynasty, awarded theNetherlands Airport Consultancy (NACO) the design contract and responsibility of supervising the construction. Additionally, the contract to construct the runway, taxiways, and aircraft stands was granted to the Greek construction companyJoannou & Paraskevaides.[4]
The airport was ceremonially opened as Seeb International Airport on 1 January 1973.[5] In the initial years, it had a single operational terminal building that served both arrivals and departures, and only two check-in and immigration desks. In the mid-1970s, the airport was later night-rated.[3]
In the 1980s and 1990s, the former terminal was extended with new facilities. A new terminal was built to house arrivals and immigrations as well as transfers. Subsequently, a new cargo terminal was also constructed.[6]
The airport spans an area of 2,200 hectares (5,500 acres). It originally featured one passenger terminal building and one runway, as well as minor cargo and maintenance facilities. Part of the airport complex extension featured housing for airport employees and Oman Air employees. During the expansion, a new terminal and control tower were built along with a new runway. The current terminal makes Muscat airport the biggest airport in the country. Its construction started in 2007, and the airport opened in 2018. Moreover, the newly built facilities include a VIP terminal for private jets as well as an on-site airport hotel.[9]
The airport is also a joint-use military and public facility, acting as the base of operations for both theRoyal Flight of Oman and theRoyal Air Force of Oman. A Royal Terminal and Royal Flight hangars are located adjacent to the old terminal.[6]
In 2019, the Aaronia AARTOS C-UAS drone detection system was installed at the airport's premises, making Muscat International Airport the first international airport in the world to possess an operational drone detection system.[10]
The airport's newer and significantly larger terminal, located north of the existing terminal and first runway, opened in 2018. This new building initially expanded the airport's capacities to serve up to 20million passengers a year upon completion of the first phase.[11] Subsequent enlargements under the second and third phases will increase the airport capacity to 24 and 48million annual passengers, respectively.[11] The terminal covers 580,000 m2 (6,200,000 sq ft) and features 118 check-in counters, ten baggage reclaim belts, 82 immigration counters, 45 gates, and a new, 97 m-high (318 ft) control tower. The new terminal is situated between the old and new runways and is capable of handling large aircraft such asAirbus A380s andBoeing 747s.[12] The terminal opened on 18 March 2018, with the first flight, an Oman Air flight fromNajaf, arriving at 6:30p.m.[13]
Terminal 2 is a single-building, two-story, T-shaped passenger terminal. Built in 1970, it opened in 1973 as a replacement for the Bait al-Falaj airport and has been expanded several times over the last years to cater for growing passenger numbers.[14] This terminal featured 58 check-in counters, 23 departure gates, four baggage reclaim belts, and several service counters and shops.[14] A new pier was constructed in 2007, with additional shops, restaurants, and outlets, opening in 2009. During its years of operation, passengers and crew were transported to and from the aircraft using shuttle buses as the terminal offered no jet bridges.[15]
The airport features two runways: the original Runway 08R/26L and the second Runway 08L/26R, situated north of the new terminal building and inaugurated on 14 December 2014. Both runways are equipped to accommodate large aircraft, including theBoeing 747-8,Airbus A380, and theAntonov An-225. The original runway, situated between the new and the former passenger terminal, underwent closure in 2015 for refurbishment and expansion,[17] aligning with the construction of a completely new main terminal building and anairport apron area. The refurbishment of the original runway was finalized in October 2023, and it officially resumed operations in November 2023.[18]
The old terminal's apron features 32 stands[14] on both sides of the T-shaped passenger terminal building, with 30 new ones constructed in two phases[12] in front of the new terminal building, of which several were already in use as of September 2016.
2017 Bombardier Challenger 604 accident – On 7 January 2017, aBombardier Challenger 604 operated byMHS Aviation had wake turbulence from anEmiratesAirbus A380; the aircraft sustained a serious damage, and two serious injuries were reported. Consequently, the airplane landed safely atMuscat. All 9 occupants survived the accident.[citation needed]
On 19 July 2024, aCham Wings Airlines Airbus A320 operating arriving fromDamascus International Airport departed the runway after landing when the crew lost control of the aircraft due to a steering malfunction. There were no injuries and the aircraft suffered minor damage.[68]
Aerial view of the entire airport showing the new terminal in the center with the old facilities on topTerminal 2, the former main buildingOman AirAirbus A330-300s parked on the apron of the old terminal. Until the opening of the new terminal, there were nojetbridges available.
Oman National Transport Company (Mwasalat) operates 24-hour service specialairport buses at fixed intervals. The Route A1 operates between Mabela andRuwi bus station with a stop at Muscat Airport. Bus Route 8 (Al Mouj-Al Khuwair) also has a stop at Muscat Airport. Metered-airport taxis are available with special counters at the baggage and arrival halls.Car rental and chauffeur services are also available.[71]
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