Sunday 24 / November / 2024
Muscat: “Duqm airport is a major upgrade in the aviation sector in the Sultanate,” according to Dr Ahmed Al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications.
A grand official opening ceremony of the new Duqm airport was held yesterday. The event was held under the patronage of Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, Minister of Interior.
Al Futaisi highlighted the importance of the new airport in aiding the growth and prosperity of the economic zone in Duqm.
“The airport is part of the special economic zone in Duqm so it will play a major role in stimulating the economic and tourism activities within the zone,” Al Futaisi said.
Regarding the characteristics of the new airport, Sheikh Ayman Al Hosni, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Airport Management Company (OAMC), told Times of Oman, “Duqm airport is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities supplied with all the services that a passenger requires, such as shops and cafes.”
“The total built-up area is 9,500 square metres. As of now, the airport’s capacity is 500 million passengers a year, with an expanding capability of 2 million, if the demand exists. The number of passengers last reached 57,000 and the growth between 2017 to 2018 amounted to 49 per cent,” he said.
Duqm airport is equipped to be an international airport. “The airport is currently linked to Muscat through flights. However, we have built this airport to be an international airport so that we can attract international flights if there is demand from certain countries or airports, and it can also serve private jets for private investors who want to come directly to Duqm,” Al Futaisi said.
“With this new airport, the sea air cargos can move seemingly between the two places. This is a unique proposition for Duqm airport due to its proximity to the port,” Al Futaisi said.
The airport officials are planning to increase the number of flights not only from Muscat to Duqm but to other destinations as well.
“In 2018, the airport recorded almost 152 flights from abroad. The airport is equipped for international flights and the runway is capable of handling even the A380, which is currently the biggest aircraft,” added Al Hosni. Speaking about the future plans of the aviation sector, Al Hosni said, “The government has created a robust plan to expand the entire infrastructure, whether it is the airlines, the airport or other logistics facilities. We opened Salalah Airport in 2017; last year, we opened Muscat International Airport and on Monday, we celebrated the official opening of the Duqm airport. We are, therefore, looking forward to incorporating more facilities that will serve the aviation sector, as more investors come into the country. ”
Mustafa Al Hinai, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Airport Group, spoke to Times of Oman regarding the Omanisation plans of the airport. “The staff we have at the new airport are fully Omani. We have also attracted talent from the local community and we are working hand-in-hand with the authority in Duqm to provide job opportunities.”
Duqm Airport is the third among the Sultanate’s airports to be operated with all the facilities. The first operation of the passengers’ building began on September 17, 2018.
