Hi FM

Listen
On Air Non-Stop Hits Billie Eilish - Chihiro

Neos Air launches Rome–Salalah charter flights, boosting winter tourism

Monday, 20 October 2025 21:28

Muscat – In a major boost to Oman’s winter tourism season, Salalah Airport on Monday welcomed the inaugural flight of Italian carrier Neos Air from Rome, marking the start of direct charter flights between Oman and Italy. The new route, operated via Milan, consolidates Oman’s position on the global tourism map and underscores Dhofar’s growing […]

Muscat – In a major boost to Oman’s winter tourism season, Salalah Airport on Monday welcomed the inaugural flight of Italian carrier Neos Air from Rome, marking the start of direct charter flights between Oman and Italy.

The new route, operated via Milan, consolidates Oman’s position on the global tourism map and underscores Dhofar’s growing appeal as a winter destination. The service is expected to attract more European visitors and support the governorate’s expanding tourism sector.

Haitham bin Mohammed al Ghassani, Director General of Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT), said the launch reflects the success of joint efforts between the ministry, Oman Airports and their partners. “This initiative is part of our strategy to attract international carriers to Oman through partnerships with airlines such as Edelweiss Air of Switzerland and Italy’s Neos Air,” he said.

Ghassani added that the route follows rising demand from European travellers, particularly from Italy, noting that Italian arrivals to Oman increased 48% in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period last year. “Dhofar’s mild winter climate, scenic landscapes and rich cultural heritage continue to appeal strongly to European visitors,” he said.

A Neos Air spokesperson said the route is part of the airline’s plan to expand its international network in the Middle East. The weekly flight will operate during the winter season, with potential expansion based on passenger demand.

The arrival of the Rome–Salalah flight coincided with the first direct charter service from Budapest, which landed on Sunday carrying 189 tourists, marking the official start of Dhofar’s 2025 winter tourism season.

Meanwhile, MHT hosted the annual meeting of Italy’s Alpitour Group in Salalah from October

15 to 19, bringing together representatives from 220 Italian travel companies to promote Oman’s tourism offerings. Delegates visited key cultural and natural landmarks across Dhofar, experiencing the governorate’s distinctive heritage and hospitality first-hand.

Officials said the new direct flights and the Italian delegation’s visit reflect MHT’s continuing efforts to diversify source markets and boost Oman’s reputation as a global tourism destination.

According to MHT, charter flights to Oman rose 26% during the 2024–25 season, with 93,000 passengers generating about US$80mn in tourism-related revenue.

Share

More from Muscat Daily Oman News

  • Industry leaders chart path for sustainable tourism in Oman

    Muscat – Tourism leaders, industry experts and environmental advocates have called for greater collaboration to position Oman as a year-round global tourism destination while ensuring sustainable growth and heritage preservation. The call came during a panel discussion titled ‘An Omani-British Dialogue in Year-Round Tourism’ organised by the Omani British Society at the Hormuz Hotel on […]

  • Summit outlines roadmap for AI adoption in Oman’s academic sector

    Muscat – The third Oman Research and Education Network Technology Summit (OTS25) concluded on Tuesday with a set of recommendations aimed at accelerating the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in Oman’s higher education and research sectors. The summit called for updating academic curricula to enhance analytical and critical thinking skills and for the establishment of […]

  • Botswana to open embassy in Oman to strengthen bilateral ties

    Muscat – President Duma Boko of the Republic of Botswana has announced his country’s plan to open an embassy in Oman soon, underscoring growing cooperation between the two nations. The announcement was made during President Boko’s visit on Tuesday to the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), where he was received by Abdulsalam bin Mohammed al Murshidi, […]

  • Oman, Qatar firms explore new trade partnership avenues at Muscat business forum

    Muscat – The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) hosted a two-day business forum on Tuesday, bringing together Omani and Qatari companies to explore new avenues of cooperation and partnership. H E Sheikh Mubarak bin Fahad al Thani, Qatar’s Ambassador to Oman, said relations between the two countries continue to develop steadily, guided […]

  • Boost for emergency care as Sohar Hospital gets CPR Training Centre 

    Suhar – The Directorate General of Health Services in North Batinah, under the Ministry of Health (MoH), has inaugurated a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Training Centre at Sohar Hospital, established with funding support from Sohar Aluminium. The inauguration ceremony was held under the patronage of H E Dr Ahmed bin Salem al Mandhari, Undersecretary for Health […]

  • EA launches campaign to boost green cover in Al  Sireen Reserve

    Muscat – As part of the national programme for planting 10mn trees, the Environment Authority (EA) has launched a new campaign to cultivate 4mn wild seeds and plant 10,000 native trees in the Al Sireen Nature Reserve, in the wilayat of Amerat, Muscat.  The initiative aims to enhance the ecosystem within the reserve, improve its […]

FM
Online
App