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144.42 |
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255.85 |
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201.35 |
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Salim Al Aufi, CEO of Public Authority for Civil Aviation: Jun Estrada/TIMES OF OMAN
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Muscat: The government is in the process of appointing a consultant to look into an 'open sky' policy, a drastic change from the bilateral seat arrangement policy followed by the country for allowing foreign airlines to fly to Muscat and Salalah and vice-versa.
This is part of a larger plan to develop an air transport policy and assess opportunities for liberalisation in an apparent move to efficiently utilise the massive facilities of Muscat and Salalah international airports after completing the expansion programmes. Muscat airport will be able to handle 12 million passengers per annum from end-2014 and Salalah airport will be able to handle one million passengers after the expansion expected to be completed by next year.
If government opts for an open sky policy, the international airlines, which are allowed to fly to Oman, will not have any restriction on the number of flights they operate or the total number of seats. "Today, we are controlling this by bilateral arrangements, but still they need a licence to operate," Salim Al Aufi, Chief Executive Officer of Public Authority for Civil Aviation, told journalists on the sidelines of Oman Construction Summit here.
"If we go for open sky (policy), we will be completely different because it will change the face of civil aviation in the country."
Al Aufi said Dubai, Kuwait and the United States are following an open sky policy. "Open sky policy has a lot of levels. The consultant will tell us what level we need to be going toward and on what base," he said.
He also said that the liberal approach will aid the growth of aviation sector, which will "ensure that the airports we have are generating returns on investment."
The government is also looking to attract airlines not only to Muscat, but also for local travel as regional airports need support.
Forward looking
Responding to a question on how it would affect the national carrier Oman Air, he said, "Oman Air has to shape up in order to retain its market position."
He also noted that the consultant for advising air transport policy would be selected after evaluating bids (which will take two to three weeks). And the consultant is expected to submit their report sometime by the middle of this year, which will be presented to the Cabinet for taking a final decision.
Al Aufi noted that the Salalah airport expansion would be completed by the end of 2013 and commissioning (and testing of all facilities and equipment) will be early 2014. Muscat airport expansion will be completed six to nine months after commissioning Salalah airport expansion. "We are looking at end-2014 or early 2015 for commissioning Muscat airport (expansion)."
Presenting a paper on expansion of two international airports and building regional airports at the summit, he said it is complete re-built and not just expansion. The Muscat airport will have two runways. "The airport is designed as class A, according to IATA standards. There will be parking space for 8,000 cars at the Muscat airport," he said.
Other features of Muscat airport, which will have a capacity to handle 12 million passengers in the first phase, include 42 air bridges connecting planes, ability to handle 5,500 baggages per hour, and 118 check-in counters at the departure section. "We will not have any issues in handling baggages."
The airport will also have a 90-room hotel, which will have separate meeting rooms.
Now the government is discussing about what to do with the existing terminal building, once the airport activities are shifted to the new terminal building. Plans are also afoot to strike a deal with a company to sell the space at duty free area.
The passenger handling capacity of Muscat airport will be further increased to 24 million in the second phase, further to 36 million and 42 million in the subsequent phases.
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