Oman government covets budget carrier SalamAir

Oman is reportedly looking to acquire SalamAir, the Gulf state’s first low-cost airline.

The possible purchase would be made by the government and not by state-owned Oman Air, and there would be “no operational merger” between the two airlines, transport minister Said al Maawali told the Oman Observer.

Details will be announced soon, the report said.

AGBI reported last month that Oman was trying to attract private capital into its aviation sector as part of a 15-year strategy to improve connectivity and modernise infrastructure.

The National Aviation Strategy 2040 aims to draw more than OMR1 billion ($2.6 billion) in cumulative private-sector investment.

The 2040 targets include handling more than 40 million passengers, transporting about 1 million tonnes of air cargo and raising the sector’s contribution to GDP to more than 3.5 percent. 

Last year, Oman’s airports – including Muscat International, Salalah, Sohar and Duqm – received 15.2 million passengers.

Oman Air said passenger volumes rose 8 percent to 5.8 million in 2025, driven by new routes, increased frequencies, and codeshare partnerships.

Further reading:

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• Oman to launch air taxi service in 2027
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