Another Middle Eastern route on the horizon? Airport operator eyes Budapest
Oman Airports, the company operating Omani airports, is planning a major European expansion in the coming years, with a strong focus on Central and Eastern European cities – including Budapest. The route development programme of Muscat and Salalah airports primarily aims to attract low-cost carriers to serve the new destinations.
Budapest as a strategic target
Salim Al-Shukaili, the company’s Director of Route Development, told Aviation Week that Budapest, alongside Warsaw, Kraków, Poznań, Bucharest and Bratislava, has made it onto their target list, as noted by AIRportal.hu. The launch of new routes would not only boost inbound tourism but also promote the expansion of business and cultural ties with the Omani market. Although no specific airlines or launch dates have yet been announced, the direction is clear: they want to enter underserved routes in the Central and Eastern European region.
European focus and an expanding route network
Muscat International Airport handled 12.9 million passengers in 2024, representing a 2% increase compared to 2023. Salalah Airport already exceeded pre-pandemic 2019 traffic by 17.3%, mainly due to tourism and seasonal travel. The new network strategy targets not only Central and Eastern Europe but also Russia, where new flights from Sochi and Mineralnye Vody will begin in October, operated by Azimuth Airlines.
In Western Europe, besides secondary cities in Germany, Italy, and France, Spain and Portugal are coming into focus. According to the company, Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon offer strong outbound tourism demand, and there is potential for cooperation with several tour operators.
New airline partners
By the end of this year, several new airline partnerships will already be in place:
- Iraqi Airways will launch flights from three Iraqi cities to Muscat.
- China Eastern Airlines will operate twice weekly between Beijing and Muscat from 30 November.
- Italian carrier Neos Airlines will introduce a new triangular route linking Milan–Muscat–Salalah, along with additional direct Rome–Salalah flights.
Further plans beyond 2026
The long-term strategy focuses on the Nordic markets, targeting countries such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. The aim is to attract tourists seeking winter sunshine and premium cultural travel, supported by joint marketing campaigns and incentive programmes.
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