Oman Increases Flights to Salalah for Khareef Dhofar 2026 Season: What Changes for Tourists

Oman is preparing one of the most notable seasonal aviation surges of the summer: the country's Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed the Khareef Dhofar 2026 plan with additional flights, increased capacity, and simplified procedures at Salalah Airport. For travelers, this means more flight options to the green south of Oman during the most popular period of the year, but also the need to plan dates, connections, baggage, and ground logistics more carefully.

The Khareef season in Dhofar is traditionally distinguished by the fact that southern Oman becomes almost the opposite of most summer destinations in the Persian Gulf for several months. While the region remains hot, Salalah and the surrounding mountains are influenced by monsoon moisture: fog, green slopes, waterfalls, cooler air, and high demand for short vacations appear. That is why aviation readiness for Khareef has not only transport but also tourism significance: the number of flights determines how accessible the trip will be for residents of Oman, tourists from GCC countries, regional guests, and those traveling via Muscat.

What the Civil Aviation Authority of Oman Announced

On June 15, 2026, the CAA announced the aviation system's readiness for Khareef Dhofar 2026. According to the official plan, Oman Air's seasonal operations will run from July 1 to September 5, 2026, and SalamAir will operate on an intensified seasonal schedule from July 1 to August 31, 2026. This is an important detail for tourists: the peak natural season is wider, but the maximum aviation supply is primarily tied to July, August, and early September.

Oman Air plans to operate up to 13 daily flights between Muscat and Salalah during peak periods. For comparison, the 2025 season plan had 12 daily flights, although the carrier increased frequency on certain days of high demand. SalamAir, for its part, is preparing up to 10 daily flights on the same route. Together, this forms a very dense domestic air corridor between the capital and the main resort center of Dhofar.

How Many Seats Airlines Will Add

According to CAA data, Oman Air expects about 330,000 seats during the Khareef 2026 season compared to 313,000 last year. The projected number of Oman Air passengers on this route is approximately 298,000, which is about 8% more than in the previous season. SalamAir predicts 190,844 seats and about 166,393 passengers, representing a small but stable growth against the already high base of 2025.

Separately, it is important that SalamAir plans 984 flights during the season compared to 962 in 2025. In practice, this means not only more seats but also more chances to find a convenient departure time for a short vacation, family trip, or connection with an international flight. For tourists arriving in Oman from abroad, higher frequency on the Muscat - Salalah domestic segment reduces the risk of long waits between flights, although it does not completely eliminate the need to allow extra time.

Why This Is Important Specifically for Salalah

Salalah is not a typical year-round beach destination like neighboring Gulf megacities. Its main tourism strength is linked to seasonality: Khareef transforms Dhofar into a regional summer escape from the heat. Because of this, demand is concentrated in a relatively short window, when hotels, excursions, car rentals, family trips, and domestic flights simultaneously experience a sharp load.

The expansion of the aviation program helps distribute this demand. A greater number of flights gives tourists more freedom for weekend trips, long weekends, and school holidays. For tour operators and hotels, this creates a more predictable basis for packages, and for Salalah Airport, it is a test of readiness for peak flows. At the same time, high seasonality means that the best fares and more convenient departure times can quickly disappear for popular dates.

International Component: Not Just Muscat

The CAA plan shows that the Khareef 2026 season has a broader geography than just domestic flights from Muscat. Oman Air is launching the Dubai - Salalah route from July 3, 2026, with three flights per week and is allocating approximately 18,000 seats for connections between Salalah and GCC destinations in July-September. SalamAir is also strengthening direct links, including flights to Salalah from Dammam and Baghdad.

In addition to national carriers, Salalah Airport is expected to receive 68 flights from foreign airlines in a seasonal context: 39 from the UAE via Air Arabia, flydubai, and Etihad Airways, 11 from Saudi Arabia via flynas, 14 from Qatar via Qatar Airways, and 4 from India via Air India Express. For the tourism market, this is important because Dhofar becomes more accessible without a mandatory transfer in Muscat, and Salalah receives additional demand from regions where the summer coolness of Khareef has obvious appeal.

What Will Change for Passengers on the Way

The CAA specifically emphasizes not only the number of flights but also measures to speed up passenger procedures. The plan mentions expedited immigration processes, separate lanes for families, elderly passengers, and people with disabilities, multilingual navigation, simplified arrival and departure procedures, more digital and self-service solutions, improved baggage handling, and expanded passenger reception areas. If these measures work as stated, tourists should have a less chaotic experience during the airport's busiest weeks.

But increased capacity does not mean you can arrive at the airport at the last moment. On the contrary, during the Khareef season, risks shift: even if there are more flights, peak hours, group trips, families with baggage, car rentals after arrival, and transfer queues can create bottlenecks. Passengers should check flight times the day before, allow extra time for the trip to the airport, carefully check baggage rules, and avoid planning too short connections between international arrival and the domestic flight to Salalah.

The Role of Muscat as the Main Hub

For many travelers, Muscat will remain the key entry point. A significant portion of international connections will pass through it, and then passengers will transfer to a domestic flight to Salalah. Therefore, before booking, it is worth checking not only the flight to Dhofar but also the logistics at the capital's airport: the current Muscat Airport (MCT) information dossier, MCT online board, hotel options near Muscat Airport, car rental at MCT airport, or transfers and taxis from Muscat International Airport if a overnight connection or a short stop in the capital is needed.

For tourists from Europe, Asia, or the Middle East, the most convenient route may depend on price, connection time, and the availability of a direct seasonal flight to Salalah. If a direct flight is available, it saves time. If not, the route via Muscat remains the most predictable, especially given the planned high frequency of Oman Air and SalamAir on the domestic leg.

Prices, Booking, and Practical Nuances

The CAA reports that Oman Air continues to apply special fares for Omani citizens introduced in 2024: 54 Omani riyals for a round trip and 32 riyals for a one-way flight. SalamAir offers several fare categories for the Muscat - Salalah route, where the cost depends on the booking time and baggage. For foreign tourists, this should not be taken as a universal guarantee of low prices: the final cost depends on seat availability, specific fare rules, baggage, payment method, and travel date.

The most cautious strategy for Khareef 2026 is to book early, especially if the trip is tied to weekends, school holidays, or popular dates in August. It is also worth deciding in advance whether a car is needed in Salalah. Many of Dhofar's natural locations are scattered outside the city, and demand for car rentals or organized transfers may grow along with passenger traffic. If the trip is short, it is worth realistically assessing how much time will remain after arrival, baggage collection, the trip to the hotel, and possible weather changes in the mountains.

What This Means for Oman's Tourism Market

The intensification of flights to Salalah shows that Oman treats Khareef not as a local seasonal phenomenon, but as a full-fledged tourism product of regional scale. For the country, this is an opportunity to reduce dependence on classic winter trips, attract guests in the summer months, and better monetize the natural uniqueness of Dhofar. For airlines, this is a test of flexible seasonal capacity: they need to add enough flights but not create a surplus after the peak ends.

At the same time, for travelers, the main conclusion is simple: in 2026, getting to Salalah should be easier than in previous seasons, but the popularity of the destination will not disappear. More flights do not eliminate competition for the most convenient dates, hotels, cars, and excursions. The best results will be achieved by those who view the flight ticket as only one part of the route and immediately check accommodation, transport, insurance, weather conditions, entry rules, and actual connection times.

Conclusion

Khareef Dhofar 2026 is becoming a major summer aviation tourism project for Oman: Oman Air and SalamAir are increasing frequencies, Salalah is receiving additional regional flights, and the CAA promises enhanced procedures for a smoother passenger flow. For tourists, this is good news, because the destination becomes more accessible during a season when demand traditionally exceeds the usual level. But because of this demand, the trip should be planned not on a residual basis, but as a seasonal route with high load: check the schedule, book early, allow extra time for connections, and carefully monitor fare and baggage rules.