Muscat:
The new passenger terminal at Muscat International Airport will begin operations on March 20, the Ministry of Transport and Communications announced.
All incoming and outgoing flights will be transferred from the current terminal to the new one.
Dr. Ahmad Al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications, said the new terminal will serve as a “focal point for the world”, and will be a landmark of modern state monuments. He also said it will greatly benefit the national economy, given the growth witnessed by civil aviation and other sectors.
He said in a statement issued by the ministry all flight operations will be transferred to the new terminal on March 20 and called upon all relevant parties to make the necessary arrangements to ensure the smooth transition of operations and passenger traffic at the new terminal. Al Futaisi stressed the ministry and its strategic partners will now be able to operate the building, following final confirmation of its readiness through operational tests conducted in recent months.
The revamped Muscat International Airport is expected to have the capacity to handle more than 12 million passengers a year and 48 million passengers after the completion of a number of four-phase construction projects.
The first stage covered 580,000 square metres and features 86 check-in counters, 10 baggage claim belts, 40 gates for both departure and arrival, 29 lounges, 29 aircraft stands with jet-bridges as well as a new control tower.
The new terminal will have the capacity to handle large aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 747. The existing terminal will be used for low-cost carrier operations.
