Iraqi Airways has landed its first flight at Salalah Airport, marking a deliberate expansion of its regional network. The arrival was met with a traditional water‑salute reception, guests greeted with bouquets and Omani sweets, warmly acknowledging a new air connection between Iraq and Oman.
The flight follows a route development strategy that saw Fly Baghdad recently inaugurate direct services to Salalah from Baghdad International Airport, intensifying travel options between the two nations.
Officials from Iraq’s Ministry of Transport, including Razzaq al‑Saadawi, confirmed during an address at the Gulf Green Mobility Forum held in Salalah that this Iraqi Airways service is currently a testing flight. Final clearances from the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority are expected to pave the way for the official launch of scheduled operations on 6 September.
Phase one of the expansion will link Baghdad to Salalah. That will be followed by flights from Najaf to Muscat, and eventually from Basra to the Omani capital. The transport ministry views these developments as part of a broader strategy to enhance regional connectivity, expand the airline’s reach, and strengthen Iraq’s role in air transport.
Salalah is already bolstered by growing visitor numbers, especially during the Khareef monsoon season, which spans from 21 June to 15 August. Over this period, visitor arrivals to the Dhofar Governorate increased to 827,115, up from 810,085 in 2024. Arrivals by air, in particular, rose by 15.5 percent, with flight numbers climbing from 795 to 925, and passenger volumes increasing by 3 percent to 158,301.
By introducing another Iraqi carrier alongside Fly Baghdad, Iraqi Airways aims to tap into this upward trend in tourism and business travel, strengthening bilateral ties with Oman and stimulating economic prospects within the region.
The airline will operate two weekly services between Baghdad and Muscat in its initial phase. However, those routes will run in tandem with the new Salalah service, anchored as part of a growing network that aims to serve key hubs across the Gulf.
With approvals pending, full commercial operations will signal Iraq's renewed emphasis on regional outreach through aviation. The opening of these routes could elevate passenger options, drive tourism into Dhofar, and integrate Salalah more deeply into Gulf air transport frameworks.
The flight follows a route development strategy that saw Fly Baghdad recently inaugurate direct services to Salalah from Baghdad International Airport, intensifying travel options between the two nations.
Officials from Iraq’s Ministry of Transport, including Razzaq al‑Saadawi, confirmed during an address at the Gulf Green Mobility Forum held in Salalah that this Iraqi Airways service is currently a testing flight. Final clearances from the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority are expected to pave the way for the official launch of scheduled operations on 6 September.
Phase one of the expansion will link Baghdad to Salalah. That will be followed by flights from Najaf to Muscat, and eventually from Basra to the Omani capital. The transport ministry views these developments as part of a broader strategy to enhance regional connectivity, expand the airline’s reach, and strengthen Iraq’s role in air transport.
Salalah is already bolstered by growing visitor numbers, especially during the Khareef monsoon season, which spans from 21 June to 15 August. Over this period, visitor arrivals to the Dhofar Governorate increased to 827,115, up from 810,085 in 2024. Arrivals by air, in particular, rose by 15.5 percent, with flight numbers climbing from 795 to 925, and passenger volumes increasing by 3 percent to 158,301.
By introducing another Iraqi carrier alongside Fly Baghdad, Iraqi Airways aims to tap into this upward trend in tourism and business travel, strengthening bilateral ties with Oman and stimulating economic prospects within the region.
The airline will operate two weekly services between Baghdad and Muscat in its initial phase. However, those routes will run in tandem with the new Salalah service, anchored as part of a growing network that aims to serve key hubs across the Gulf.
With approvals pending, full commercial operations will signal Iraq's renewed emphasis on regional outreach through aviation. The opening of these routes could elevate passenger options, drive tourism into Dhofar, and integrate Salalah more deeply into Gulf air transport frameworks.
Topics
Oman