Normally modest by regional standards, the airport in Oman’s capital handles only a fraction of the traffic seen at major Gulf hubs such as Dubai International Airport. Yet with airports in the UAE, Qatar and other parts of the region operating at sharply reduced capacity — or temporarily closed — Muscat has seen a sudden surge in flights and passenger activity.
One of the airlines rapidly adjusting its operations is Qatar Airways, which had suspended passenger flights since the weekend. The carrier is now setting up a temporary “mini-hub” in Muscat, allowing a limited number of aircraft, pilots and cabin crew to operate flights from the Omani capital to several European cities.
Beginning Friday, the airline plans to run services from Muscat to Heathrow Airport, as well as Berlin, Copenhagen, Madrid, Rome, and Amsterdam. The first service — a Boeing 777 bound for Heathrow — departed later than planned on Thursday afternoon local time and is expected to arrive in London shortly after 8pm GMT.
For many travellers attempting to leave Doha, reaching Muscat has been a challenge. The overland journey between the two cities stretches more than 1,000 kilometres and involves multiple border crossings through Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, significantly extending travel time.
Meanwhile, British Airways has confirmed it will operate a fourth special passenger flight from Muscat to Heathrow in the early hours of Sunday. The service is reserved exclusively for British Airways customers stranded in the Gulf — particularly those in Abu Dhabi and Dubai — who already hold existing bookings.
A spokesperson for the airline urged travellers not to head to the airport without confirmed reservations, noting that affected customers should contact the airline’s dedicated hotline or await direct communication from the carrier.
Muscat has also served as the departure point for a charter flight arranged by the UK Government, though that service faced significant delays after what a minister described as difficulties boarding passengers.
At the same time, Oman’s national carrier Oman Air is increasing flights from Muscat to several international destinations, including Heathrow. The airline is redeploying aircraft and crews normally assigned to Gulf routes and will operate the additional services for at least nine days starting Saturday.
The expanded schedule also includes flights to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Mumbai. Oman Air may also allow passengers from these Asian cities to connect onward to London, a move expected to boost capacity and help keep ticket prices stable during the disruption.
Elsewhere in the region, Emirates has stepped up repatriation flights from Dubai, operating multiple services to Heathrow along with additional flights to Manchester and Gatwick Airport.
Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic has resumed its route between Heathrow and Dubai, further helping stranded passengers return home as airlines adjust to the evolving situation across Gulf airspace.