Maps show how Muscat became the center of Middle East air travel when the region's biggest airports closed

"While most Gulf countries have closed their airspace, Oman's has remained open. Airlines and governments have therefore been using it as a hub to help people get home. Italy and Slovenia organised buses to help their citizens travel from the UAE to Muscat, about a five-hour drive."

"144 flights departed from Muscat on Thursday, compared to 125 a week earlier, according to data from Flightradar24. The flight-tracking service also said that private aircraft account for nearly one-third of takeoffs and landings."

"Flights from the Omani capital arrived in 20 new destinations on Thursday compared to a week earlier. Previously, Dubai and Salalah, Oman, were the most popular destinations for flights departing Muscat. But on Thursday, it was Cairo and Istanbul."

Following US and Israel strikes on Iran, Muscat emerged as the primary aviation hub for the Middle East as other Gulf countries closed their airspace. Oman maintained open skies, enabling airlines and governments to use it as a transit point for citizens returning home. Flight departures from Muscat increased from 125 to 144 flights weekly, with private aircraft comprising nearly one-third of traffic. Infrastructure faced strain, with Oman Air requiring passengers to arrive 12 hours early at border crossings. Flight patterns shifted significantly, with Cairo and Istanbul replacing Dubai and Salalah as primary destinations, facilitating onward connections to Europe and beyond.

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