SalamAir carried more than 180,000 passengers to and from Salalah during Oman’s 2026 Khareef season, marking a 20% increase from the same period last year.

The Oman-based low-cost carrier expanded its flight schedule and seat capacity to accommodate increased demand for travel to Dhofar during the three-month seasonal tourism period from June to August.

SalamAir operated 1,042 flights during the period, up 19% year on year, while available seat capacity rose 10% to more than 189,000 seats.

During the peak months of July and August, the airline added 84 extra flights, giving passengers greater flexibility and increasing access to Salalah.

Omani travellers accounted for 80% of SalamAir’s total passengers during the season, highlighting strong domestic demand. To support the market, the airline introduced initiatives including a special OMR 9.99 fare for Omani nationals, increased frequencies of up to 15 daily flights between Muscat and Salalah during peak periods, special baggage offers and direct services from Sohar.

SalamAir also strengthened connectivity from regional markets. The carrier operated 96 flights between Sohar and Salalah, carrying more than 14,000 passengers. In addition, 40 direct flights from Baghdad and Dammam provided more than 7,000 seats.

The Baghdad-Salalah route recorded particularly strong growth, carrying more than 2,000 passengers, a 197% increase compared with 2025. The recently launched Dammam-Salalah route carried more than 4,000 passengers across 26 flights.

SalamAir plans Salalah base and new international routes

Building on the strong Khareef season, SalamAir plans to establish its first aircraft base in Salalah.

From the end of October 2026, the airline will introduce direct services from Salalah to Jeddah, Chattogram and Calicut. The expansion is expected to improve year-round international connectivity from Dhofar while creating additional travel options for residents and visitors.

The airline said the expanded network will also support tourism and economic activity in the governorate and contribute to the broader objectives of Oman Vision 2040.

Adrian Hamilton-Manns, Chief Executive Officer of SalamAir, said the airline had responded to demand from customers and the people of Oman for greater choice, accessibility and affordable travel to Salalah during Khareef.

He said SalamAir provided its highest-ever capacity to Dhofar during the season while increasing frequencies from Muscat, Sohar and key regional markets.

Hamilton-Manns added that the airline’s commitment to Salalah extends beyond the Khareef season, with plans to strengthen its presence in Dhofar through expanded connectivity and additional travel options.

Source: Trade Arabia News Service

Oman Air will introduce its Winter 2026/27 schedule on October 25, increasing flight frequencies and capacity across the Gulf, Europe, Russia and Asia while expanding codeshare partnerships to improve global connectivity.

The airline will significantly increase European capacity, tripling its Zurich capacity compared with the summer season through the deployment of widebody aircraft on up to five weekly flights. Services to Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Milan and Istanbul will also rise to as many as five flights per week.

Flights to Moscow will double from four to up to eight weekly services, building on Oman Air’s 11-city European network and offering travellers more options for winter travel while improving access to Oman for international visitors.

The new schedule will also provide the first full winter operations for several destinations launched earlier this year. Singapore will receive four weekly flights, while Tashkent will retain twice-weekly services and Sochi will operate once a week.

To meet demand on popular routes, Oman Air will introduce weekly widebody services to Mumbai and Dhaka, adding capacity and offering passengers the comfort of its Boeing 787 aircraft.

Domestic services will also increase, with flights between Muscat and Khasab rising to up to four per week. The Muscat-Salalah route will operate up to five times daily throughout the winter season.

Oman Air is also broadening its codeshare network through new and expanded partnerships. Agreements with Lufthansa and SWISS will connect passengers to destinations including Edinburgh, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdańsk, Bergen, Billund, Gothenburg and Oslo via the airlines’ hubs in Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich.

An expansion of the existing codeshare partnership with Malaysia Airlines will add Shanghai, Beijing Daxing and Guangzhou, extending Oman Air’s reach across Greater China.

Members of both airlines’ loyalty programmes will also benefit from oneworld recognition, including tier privileges and service benefits throughout their journeys.

The expanded winter schedule underscores Oman Air’s focus on improving international connectivity, adding capacity to high-demand routes and supporting inbound tourism to Oman.

Source: Trade Arabia News Service

KLM is preparing to cancel selected flights over the coming months as delays in aircraft maintenance and repairs leave more aircraft unavailable than anticipated.

The cancellations will run from 26 October 2026 until early March 2027. The Dutch airline aims to keep additional long-haul aircraft available as reserves to reduce last-minute schedule changes and improve operational reliability.

A KLM spokesperson told Dutch broadcaster NOS that the aircraft shortage has been caused by unplanned maintenance requirements, damage repairs and scheduled maintenance work taking longer than expected. Delays in spare-parts deliveries have also contributed to the situation.

In some cases, KLM has been operating services with aircraft different from those originally scheduled.

The airline has not yet disclosed the number of flights that will be cancelled or identified the affected destinations.

KLM said it would select flights for cancellation based on minimising the impact on passengers and providing opportunities for rebooking. The approach is intended to deliver a more reliable schedule throughout the winter period.

Source: QCAA

Turkish Airlines carried 9 million passengers in September 2026, achieving an overall passenger load factor of 86.8%, according to its latest traffic figures.

The airline reported an international load factor of 86.6%, while domestic services recorded a higher rate of 88.2%.

Available seat kilometres (ASK), a measure of passenger capacity, rose 2.5% year-on-year to 24.6 billion in September, compared with 24 billion during the same month in 2025.

Cargo operations also posted significant growth. Combined cargo and mail volumes increased by 13% year-on-year to 205,700 tonnes during the month.

For the first nine months of 2026, Turkish Airlines transported 73 million passengers, marking a 5.2% increase from the corresponding period last year.

The airline's overall load factor reached 85% during the January-September period. International services recorded an 84.8% load factor, while domestic operations achieved 86.7%.

Passenger capacity, measured in ASK, expanded by 4.4% to 212.2 billion, up from 203.3 billion in the first nine months of 2025.

Cargo and mail traffic continued to grow, rising 10.6% year-on-year to 1.8 million tonnes, compared with 1.6 million tonnes during the same period a year earlier.

By the end of September 2026, Turkish Airlines operated a fleet of 567 aircraft.

The reported traffic figures are consolidated and cover operations under both the Turkish Airlines main brand and its subsidiary AJet.

Source: Trade Arabia News Service

Qatar Airways has announced the cancellation of additional flights scheduled for October 11, 2026, citing operational reasons, as disruptions affecting services between Doha and Riyadh continue.

The latest travel alert adds to previously announced cancellations affecting flights on October 9 and 10. The airline said it is continuing to monitor its operations and provide passengers with updated travel information through its official channels.

Three Flight Pairs Cancelled

The Qatar Airways flights cancelled for October 11 are:

• QR1170/1171
• QR1172/1173
• QR1236/1237

The cancellations affect services between Doha and Riyadh in both directions.

Qatar Airways said the safety of its passengers and crew remains its highest priority while it manages the operational situation.

Passengers Advised to Check Before Travel

Passengers affected by the cancellations have been advised to check the latest information through the Qatar Airways website or mobile application.

Travellers are also encouraged to verify their individual flight status before heading to the airport, as further operational updates could affect scheduled services.

Qatar Airways has indicated that additional information will be provided through its official channels as the situation develops.

Further Updates Expected

The October 11 cancellations follow the airline’s earlier cancellation announcements for October 9 and 10. Information concerning services between Doha and Riyadh may be updated as Qatar Airways issues further notices.

Passengers are advised to rely on the airline’s latest official updates for changes to their flight schedules, booking arrangements and travel plans.

Dubai-based airline flydubai has cancelled flights to Riyadh and Yanbu until October 10, while services to Abha will remain suspended until October 11 as regional tensions continue to disrupt air travel in Saudi Arabia.

A flydubai spokesperson confirmed the cancellations, saying the airline was closely monitoring developments and coordinating with relevant authorities. The carrier said passengers would receive updates on schedule changes through its official communication channels.

The suspensions follow attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said on Friday that three Saudi nationals had been killed and several others injured in two separate attacks.

According to the authority, the first attack targeted airport facilities, while the second struck an aircraft operated by Saudia. Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the attacks. Airport operations subsequently resumed.

flydubai has advised affected passengers to visit the Manage Booking section of its official website, flydubai.com, to review available refund and rebooking options. Customers who purchased tickets through travel agents have been advised to contact their agents directly.

The airline apologised for the disruption and said it would continue to communicate relevant updates to passengers as the situation develops.

Source: Gulf News