Muscat airport’s new terminal to receive first test flight

The first test flight at a long-delayed expansion to Muscat International Airport will take place later this month, Oman’s transport minister has announced.

Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Futaisi confirmed the timetable at the inauguration of an aviation conference in the sultanate.

He said the test flight was scheduled for December 23.

In February, al-Futaisi said the airport was scheduled to open by the end of 2017.

However, the announcement carried by the official state news agency stressed that a final opening date would only be set after assessing the results of the flight and the wider airport.

The terminal, which has a capacity for 12 million passengers a year, was originally due for completion in early 2014 but was hit by repeated delays due to illegal workers, technical difficulties and other issues.

Read: Muscat airport expansion plan faces further delay – official

The minister also said that work was underway on a national strategy in the civil aviation sector, including airports, aviation and accompanying growth and development.

The country is also undertaking expansion work at other airports including new passenger terminals at Duqm and Salalah.

Officials intend to grow Muscat airport’s capacity to 48 million passengers a year through expansion work.