Oman’s national carrier has unveiled a year-round direct service linking Dubai with Salalah that will operate three times per week from 3 July 2026, aiming to deepen regional air connectivity and tap growing leisure travel demand across the Gulf Cooperation Council. The new route, announced mid-February, will shorten travel time between the UAE’s busiest international airport and the southern Omani city known for its distinctive monsoon-shrouded landscapes and tourism appeal.
The launch of this point-to-point route reflects a strategic shift for Oman Air as it seeks to leverage increasing intra-GCC travel and broaden its short-haul network beyond its Muscat hub. Executive leadership has framed the service as part of a broader push to support economic diversification under Oman Vision 2040, with direct links to secondary destinations such as Salalah seen as catalysts for tourism-led growth and enhanced regional mobility.
Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, said the direct Dubai–Salalah flights are a response to sustained demand and part of the airline’s efforts to add capacity where traffic patterns justify it. He highlighted that strengthening air corridors across the Gulf not only offers travellers more choice but also actively supports tourism and economic activity in Oman’s Dhofar Governorate.
The new service is scheduled to open for bookings from 16 February 2026 through Oman Air’s website and mobile app, giving travellers time to plan their itineraries well ahead of the July start date. The three-weekly frequency is expected to appeal to a mix of short-break leisure travellers and Gulf residents seeking cooler climates during the southern monsoon season, when Salalah’s lush terrain and coastal attractions draw visitors from across the region.
Oman Air has been increasing available seat capacity to Salalah over the past year to meet rising demand, with a reported 20 per cent rise in seats in January 2026 compared with the previous year, and capacity expansion during peak tourism periods bolstering access. The airline has also introduced charter services, including direct links between Moscow and Salalah, aimed at diversifying source markets and supporting local tour operators and hospitality businesses.
Within the broader GCC aviation landscape, carriers are responding to a rebound in short-haul travel and intra-regional tourism with enhanced connectivity options. Salalah, a coastal city in southern Oman’s Dhofar Governorate that transforms into a verdant destination during the khareef monsoon, has seen growing interest from both leisure and business segments, prompting carriers to consider non-hub routes that bypass traditional stopovers through Muscat or other capitals.
Travel industry analysts note that direct connections between primary Gulf hubs and emerging leisure destinations align with shifting passenger preferences for convenience and multi-destination itineraries. By eliminating the need for domestic transfers or indirect routing through Muscat, the new Dubai–Salalah flights could stimulate weekend tourism, group travel and longer stays, benefiting airport operations, hotel occupancy and auxiliary services in Dhofar.
Oman Air’s network expansion extends beyond this direct link, with the carrier maintaining frequent flights between its home hub and major Gulf cities such as Doha, Riyadh and Jeddah, while also pursuing medium- and long-haul growth into Europe and Asia. The airline’s fleet modernisation, involving a mix of fuel-efficient Boeing 737 and 787 aircraft, supports flexible deployment across short-haul and intercontinental sectors, enhancing its ability to match aircraft to market demand.
The decision to introduce year-round Dubai–Salalah flights underscores a belief that demand for diversified travel options within the GCC is resilient. While Dubai remains a dominant magnet for business, shopping and entertainment, destinations such as Salalah offer contrasting experiences—cooler temperatures, green hills and monsoon landscapes—that differentiate them in a crowded travel market and help distribute visitor flows across the Arabian Peninsula.
The launch of this point-to-point route reflects a strategic shift for Oman Air as it seeks to leverage increasing intra-GCC travel and broaden its short-haul network beyond its Muscat hub. Executive leadership has framed the service as part of a broader push to support economic diversification under Oman Vision 2040, with direct links to secondary destinations such as Salalah seen as catalysts for tourism-led growth and enhanced regional mobility.
Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, said the direct Dubai–Salalah flights are a response to sustained demand and part of the airline’s efforts to add capacity where traffic patterns justify it. He highlighted that strengthening air corridors across the Gulf not only offers travellers more choice but also actively supports tourism and economic activity in Oman’s Dhofar Governorate.
The new service is scheduled to open for bookings from 16 February 2026 through Oman Air’s website and mobile app, giving travellers time to plan their itineraries well ahead of the July start date. The three-weekly frequency is expected to appeal to a mix of short-break leisure travellers and Gulf residents seeking cooler climates during the southern monsoon season, when Salalah’s lush terrain and coastal attractions draw visitors from across the region.
Oman Air has been increasing available seat capacity to Salalah over the past year to meet rising demand, with a reported 20 per cent rise in seats in January 2026 compared with the previous year, and capacity expansion during peak tourism periods bolstering access. The airline has also introduced charter services, including direct links between Moscow and Salalah, aimed at diversifying source markets and supporting local tour operators and hospitality businesses.
Within the broader GCC aviation landscape, carriers are responding to a rebound in short-haul travel and intra-regional tourism with enhanced connectivity options. Salalah, a coastal city in southern Oman’s Dhofar Governorate that transforms into a verdant destination during the khareef monsoon, has seen growing interest from both leisure and business segments, prompting carriers to consider non-hub routes that bypass traditional stopovers through Muscat or other capitals.
Travel industry analysts note that direct connections between primary Gulf hubs and emerging leisure destinations align with shifting passenger preferences for convenience and multi-destination itineraries. By eliminating the need for domestic transfers or indirect routing through Muscat, the new Dubai–Salalah flights could stimulate weekend tourism, group travel and longer stays, benefiting airport operations, hotel occupancy and auxiliary services in Dhofar.
Oman Air’s network expansion extends beyond this direct link, with the carrier maintaining frequent flights between its home hub and major Gulf cities such as Doha, Riyadh and Jeddah, while also pursuing medium- and long-haul growth into Europe and Asia. The airline’s fleet modernisation, involving a mix of fuel-efficient Boeing 737 and 787 aircraft, supports flexible deployment across short-haul and intercontinental sectors, enhancing its ability to match aircraft to market demand.
The decision to introduce year-round Dubai–Salalah flights underscores a belief that demand for diversified travel options within the GCC is resilient. While Dubai remains a dominant magnet for business, shopping and entertainment, destinations such as Salalah offer contrasting experiences—cooler temperatures, green hills and monsoon landscapes—that differentiate them in a crowded travel market and help distribute visitor flows across the Arabian Peninsula.
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Oman