Passenger traffic at Muscat International Airport increased 6 percent to 3.37 million in 2009, compared to 3.16 million in 2008.  The increase is due mainly to increased capacity and frequency of international airline flights.  According to statistics released by the Directorate General of Safety and Aviation Services at the Transport and Communication Ministry, passenger arrivals increased by 4 percent to 1,713,471 in 2009, up from 1,643,939 in 2008. 

The number of passengers departing from the Muscat International Airport increased by 9 percent to 1,657,498 in 2009, compared to 1,523,038 in 2008.  Increased capacity and frequency by carriers like Air India, Lufthansa, and Shaheen International Airline contributed to the increase in passenger traffic.  Transit traffic, which includes transfer passengers, increased 14 percent to 4,556,502 in 2009, up from 4,212,100 passengers in 2008.  There was also a surge in passenger numbers at Salalah Airport, the second major airport in Oman.  The number of passengers at this airport increased to 426,503 in 2009, up from 407,788 in 2008.