Airports in Oman, which are still keeping their airspace open because Iran's attacks have been relatively few compared with neighboring countries, have reached saturation as flights pour in. In response, Oman's airports have effectively moved to curb private jet operations by the Middle East's wealthy.
On the 8th (local time), the Financial Times (FT) reported that Muscat International Airport, in an email to private jet operators, asked them not to use the airport for "additional flights" and said it would give priority to government and commercial flights.
Muscat International Airport authorities said, "Due to current crisis management measures, flight operations are limited to approved seasonal scheduled services," and added, "All airlines and operators must cancel all slots outside approved seasonal schedules and refrain from submitting requests for unapproved flights until further notice."
An Oman government official said, "Private jet operations are not banned. Anyone can apply for a slot through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Civil Aviation Authority," while explaining, "A flood of landing permit requests has created problems in operations and schedule adjustments." Some charter operators are reportedly using airports in Riyadh and Dammam, Saudi Arabia, as alternative bases.
Muscat Airport has recently emerged as a departure point for evacuation flights carrying citizens of several countries. Because Oman maintains relatively close ties with Iran—enough to serve as a mediator in U.S.-Iran nuclear talks—the risk of Iran-launched drone attacks is relatively lower than in other Middle Eastern countries. In fact, several European countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and France, have dispatched charter flights from Muscat to evacuate their citizens.
Muscat Airport also serves as a key hub for charters and private jets used by affluent residents seeking to leave the Gulf. According to aviation data firm Flightradar24, about one-third of flights departing Muscat Airport last week were charters. Bloomberg News noted, "The once quiet Muscat International Airport has suddenly become crowded."
According to Bloomberg, since the Iran war broke out, private jets have been leaving Muscat Airport bound for Istanbul, Cairo, Malé in the Maldives, and Ahmedabad in India. With demand surging, the price of a seat on a private jet from Muscat has topped $20,000 (about 30 million won), FT reported. According to charter operators, some passengers are using pet-accompaniment services, which indicates they plan to leave the region for an extended period.
As Iranian airstrikes have forced airports in Gulf countries, including Dubai International Airport, to repeatedly halt and resume operations, bottlenecks in regional air traffic have worsened. Reuters reported, "Charter flights and limited commercial services are working frantically to evacuate tens of thousands of travelers," adding, "Travelers are paying high expense and rushing to airports to get out of the Middle East, or opting to travel overland to other relatively safe hub cities."