The total passenger traffic, including transit and transfer passengers, through Muscat International Airport increased by 33 per cent in the first quarter of 2010.
Official figures show that numbers went up to 1,311,888 from 988,941 passengers in the same period last year.
The number of arrival passengers rose by 11 per cent to 462,738 in the first quarter compared to 415,091 passengers for the same period last year. The number of departing passengers surged by 14 per cent to 436,926.
The rise in is attributed to the increase in the number of flights by some airlines operating into Muscat International Airport such as Air India, Lufthansa and Shaheen Air International.
In terms of air cargo traffic at Muscat International airport, aviation statistics indicate an increase in the total unloaded and loaded freight of 65 per cent, at the end of March 2010, with total shipment at 22,492 tonnes compared to 13,641 tonnes in the same period of 2009.
Salalah Airport has also witnessed an increase in the total number of arriving and departing passengers, up eight per cent to 104,997 by the end of March 2010 compared to 97,043 passengers for the same period of 2009.
Freight traffic at Salalah recorded an 11 per cent decrease in total unloaded and loaded freight for the first three months of the year.