Another Middle Eastern route on the horizon? Airport operator eyes Budapest
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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.
