Dubai: Oman said on Thursday it will resume scheduled international flights on Oct. 1 with strict measures to protect the country and aviation staff from the coronavirus, the Gulf state's aviation authority said in a statement.
Domestic flights between the capital Muscat and the city of Salalah will also resume on the same date, official media reported.
Residents with valid visas do not need approval from the Foreign Ministry to return to Oman, a top official said.
The move comes after more than six months of COVID-19 precautionary measures as thousands of expatriate residents have been stranded abroad since the suspension of international flights in March.
All passengers arriving in Oman will be subjected to the COVID-19 PCR test and to pay 25 Omani riyals for the test, the Authority for Civil Aviation (CAA) has said.
According to the Coronavirus Travel Guide, which has been published by the authority, only Omani citizens and residents with valid residence visas are allowed into the Sultanate without the need for prior approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
As per the guide, "All people arriving in the Sultanate shall download the “Tarassud Plus” App before arriving or on arrival in Oman. All of the arrivals will be subjected to the COVID-19 PCR test and will have to pay 25 riyals for the test.”
"All arrivals to Oman for a period from one to seven days shall register in the “Tarassud Plus” App, while arrivals for a period of eight days or more are obliged to wear the Tarassud Plus bracelet and quarantine themselves for a period of 14 days.
Aircraft crew and children aged under 15 are exempted from COVID-19 PCR test.
