Duqm airport helps diversification efforts in spreading its wings

Muscat: In its three years’ of operations, the connectivity offered by Duqm Airport to the rest of the Sultanate  and the wider world has helped Oman take major steps forward.

The airport – which was set up to meet multiple objectives in Oman – marked its third anniversary on January 14. It was constructed to improve the country’s airport infrastructure, and to contribute to the development of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZD), and the growth of Al Wusta.

Under the national development objectives of Oman Vision 2040, Duqm Airport also aims to be one of five regional airports offering passenger and freight services, alongside airports in Muscat and Salalah.

“We congratulate Duqm Airport and all its partners on the occasion of the third anniversary of the opening of the new terminal,” said Mohammed Al Shuaili, vice president of regional airports at Oman Airports. “It has quickly achieved a perfect synergy with other components led by the Special Economic Zone Authority of Duqm (SEZAD), and has become a key pillar in the area.

“The airport is helping to complete the government’s inclusive roadmap to turn the Wusta Governorate into a pillar of economic and tourism development,” he added. “This is in alignment with present and future diversification plans offered by SEZAD to both investors and individuals alike. Duqm Airport is facilitating ease of access for investors and workers.”

Al Shuaili went on to say: “The facility also contributes to express air logistics connections between Muscat and Al Wusta, while fostering the economic and tourism development of Duqm, the future hub of the nation’s promising aspirations.”

In this context, Ahmed Al Farsi, the airport manager at Duqm Airport, said the various teams working at the airport have optimised operations to offer smooth and safe travel experiences for all travellers. Duqm Airport operates flights every day of the week, except Fridays.

“We implement the highest health, safety, and precautionary measures enforced by the concerned entities to control the spread of COVID-19 and its variants, having done so immediately after airports resumed their operations, once their shutdown periods ended,” he explained.

“We have optimised state-of-the-art tech and facilities to achieve our objectives and execute our operations, so that we may achieve our targeted goals.”

Al Farsi added: “Duqm Airport has also played its role in increasing inbound tourism due to the availability of scheduled flights and luxurious hotel facilities. This has encouraged so many tourists from Oman and abroad to visit Duqm and enjoy its round-the-year pleasant weather. Since the opening of the new terminal in 2019, the airport has received around 2,152 flights up to the end of 2021, and around 136,755 travelers have benefited during the same timeframe.”

Oman Airports, in cooperation with its strategic partners has executed several emergency drills since the opening of the airport as part of its efforts to upgrade its readiness to address any emergencies under an annual emergency plan in place for all airports operated by Oman Airports, and in accordance with modern standards.

Duqm Airport has been equipped with modern systems of communications, information technology, security monitoring systems, and air navigation and meteorology systems which make the airport capable of handling various either from the Sultanate, or overseas.

Duqm Airport is located 14km from Duqm town, and can be easily accessed from the southern part of the city through Sultan Qaboos Road, which is located towards the left side of the airport roundabout. It accommodates half a million passengers, with future expansion plans to accommodate two million passengers each year.

Duqm Airport’s total size exceeds 273 sq.km and encompasses a passenger terminal, traffic control tower with height of 37m, a cargo building, a 4km ramp, and a parking capacity for four aircraft, including the Airbus A380. Furthermore, it includes a passenger terminal of 9,614 square metres, along with service facilities, air navigation, and meteorology complexes.

Duqm Airport’s aims to keep abreast with commercial and economic movement at SEZAD include attention to the cargo building, with its potential for future expansion, which gives additional importance for logistics and transportation within the area besides Duqm Port, a key maritime trade hub.

The Sultanate’s ultimate goal behind this airport is to position SEZAD on the world map as an attractive economic and tourism hub in the Middle East, and to optimise its exceptional strategic location.