Fixed-fare model likely to boost air travel during Khareef

Muscat: To encourage domestic tourism in Dhofar, especially during the Khareff season, and to facilitate the easy movement of citizens between the two governorates, the national airline has fixed the economy class fares between Muscat and Salalah at RO64 (return) and RO35 (one-way), which will be applicable throughout the year.

During the khareef season, the return economy class ticket will be priced at RO54.

Speaking on the subject, Saeed Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oman Air, said, "Instead of the surge pricing model, these fares will be applicable regardless of whether the travel is made in advance or on short notice. The two-way fare during Khareef will be fixed at RO54 for citizens."

The so-called exorbitant airfares on the Salalah-Muscat sector have been always a point of contention among passengers, especially those traveling with families during the peak Khareef months.

These airfares force visitors to Salalah to take to the road and the long drive on the 1,000-km stretch has often turned out to be fatal for some motorists and their families. Overspeeding, fatigue, and low visibility during rains are often cited as the main reasons for these unfortunate incidents.

It may be noted that Royal Directives were issued by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik in 2023 to provide direct subsidies on fuel prices at Salalah Airport, equivalent to the fuel prices at Muscat International Airport.

The number of visitors to Dhofar in the Khareef season of 2023 recorded an increase of 18.4 percent to 962,000 compared to 813,000 visitors during the 2022 season.

According to National Center for Statistics and Information also indicated an increase in spending by visitors in 2023, of RO103 million compared to RO86 million in 2022, while the number of nights of stay of visitors also increased to seven million nights compared to six million nights in the Khareef season 2022.

The Salalah Airport handled around 232,000 passengers (arrivals, departures, and flight transfers) from1,572 flight operations at the end of February this year.