Oman contends with Iran war passenger backlog

• 12,000 to fly from Muscat
• 3,000 waiting to pass land borders
• Codeshare signed with UAE airlines

Oman is facing a rising backlog of passengers this weekend due to rerouted flights and the processing of long queues on its land borders.

Air space across the region has largely been closed since Saturday due to the Iran conflict. But Muscat International Airport, which has been able to operate a limited number of commercial flights throughout most of the week, has proven to be a lifeline for evacuation out of the Gulf.

Oman Air and Salam Air will operate about 250 flights this weekend for more than 12,000 people as the airlines look to build back their flying schedules in the face of ongoing airspace closures and safety restrictions.

“The problem is not getting better this weekend. It is getting worse with this huge bottleneck of passengers waiting to go back to their countries,” Hamed Al Toki, flight operation officer at Muscat International Airport, told AGBI.

Oman’s land borders with the UAE are also facing more than 3,000 people waiting to pass through this weekend. Passengers have been told by Oman’s ministry of foreign affairs to arrive at least 12 hours before their connecting flights.

Immigration officers said food is being distributed to those stranded, with many people spending the night in queues. 

Further reading:

• Etihad restoring services following airspace closure due to Iran conflict
• Oman and Saudi Arabia emerge as evacuation hubs in Iran war
• Millions of Middle East airline seats cancelled since start of war

“Just because you go to Oman it doesn’t mean that you fly out the next day. It’s very possible that you will be there for a week, if not more until the next flight becomes available,” said Sebastien Bedu, general manager, Middle East, for International SOS, a health and security services company.

The two Omani airlines have signed a temporary code-sharing agreement with the UAE’s airlines to repatriate passengers back to their home countries. 

Services include flights from Muscat to London Heathrow, Berlin, Copenhagen, Madrid, Rome, India and Amsterdam. 

“It is not just passengers but essential cargo and perishable food items including medicines that are carried in these flights,” Al Toki said.