Oman is open to international tourism
The Government of Oman lifted all travel restrictions in the country in May 2022 – there are no requirements in place, such as quarantine or health testing.
Apart from visitors from GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE), all travelers require a visa to enter Oman if their stay is longer than 14 days. It is recommended to apply for a visa before traveling through the Royal Oman Police website.
Transit through Omani airports is permitted.
Practical tips
- If you are flying to Oman from abroad, you will most likely land at one of its biggest international airportsits main international airport—Muscat
MCT
or DuqmDQM
.
These are also the best (and cheapest) airports to fly into Oman. As they are used by many airlines serving the same routes, the competition for passengers is fierce, and airfare decreases as a result.
- Once in Oman, take advantage of frequent intercity flights operated by domestic airlines such as Oman Air and Salamair. Those in-country carriers typically offer lower fares, operate from smaller airports located closer to city centers (you save on ground transportation) and provide flexible schedules – with a wide range of departure times.
- Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations near Oman can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of Air Arabia, Air India Express, Flydubai, Indigo, Jazeera Airways, Pegasus Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Salamair, Saudia, and Wizz Air . If you have a layover in Oman and plan to fly only a short distance to one of its neighboring countries, these budget airlines are an excellent way to save money.
Flights to Oman
from United States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Oman. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Oman, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop.
- Oman is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Oman with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL
, DallasDFW
, DenverDEN
, ChicagoORD
, Los AngelesLAX
, Las VegasDFW
, MiamiMIA
, SeattleSEA
, HoustonIAH
, New YorkJFK
, and San FranciscoSFO
in the United States and TorontoYYZ
, VancouverYVR
, CalgaryLAS
, and MontrealYUL
in Canada. - The best airlines to fly to Oman from the US and Canada are: Emirates, Etihad Airways, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.
40–80% off flights to Oman
from North America
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What is the best time to book flights to Oman?
The best time to book flights to Oman is between 2 to 8 months before your travel date. The prime booking window (the most likely time to find the bargains) for Oman flights is 4–6 months before takeoff. Book when you notice a significant drop in price.
Airfare prices for Oman flights fluctuate due to demand, seasonal trends, and competition, causing numerous price drops and increases as your departure date approaches. The airlines use sophisticated revenue management systems to adjust pricing for optimal seat sales.
Generally, as seats are sold, prices tend to become more expensive.
Don’t book too early
Most airlines start selling their flights 9–12 months in advance. However, booking a ticket too early in that window can be an expensive mistake – airlines typically start by setting prices at a relatively high level to capture early demand from those willing to pay more to secure their seats.
Peak seasons are expensive
Peak travel seasons are always expensive – due to higher base prices set by airlines for dates they expect to be popular. Try to avoid the high season during summer and major holidays including holidays in Oman. If you must travel during peak times, book your flight well in advance.
Avoid last minute
Avoid booking flights to Oman less than 30 days before takeoff. Prices spike sharply then, as airlines are taking advantage of any last-minute travelers who have no choice but to pay up.
Prime Booking Window
For long-haul flights to Oman, the best time to book your ticket is around 4–6 months before departure. This is the “Prime Booking Window.” After some seats have already been sold, airlines start dropping prices to stimulate demand. They may also offer promotions and sales. This is the ideal time for bargain hunting.
Fly on weekdays
It makes a difference which day of the week you board the plane. Midweek travel (especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays) is less busy and likely cheaper than flying on weekends. Airlines charge higher prices for weekend travel due to the high demand from people going on short getaways or visiting family and friends.
Opt for early morning flights
To save on airfare, select a late night or early morning (1–5 a.m.) flight. Airlines often offer discounts on their first flight of the morning (up to 15-20%) simply because of lower demand—most people are not willing to go to the airport so early. Moreover, morning flights tend to have fewer delays, and airport queues are usually shorter.
Flights to Oman from Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Oman — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. Direct flights from Europe to Oman are operated by only a handful of airlines: Lufthansa, Oman Air, Pegasus Airlines, SalamAir, and Turkish Airlines. Expect 5-7 hours long flights and regular airfares of around Є400-Є600 for a return flight in economy class. Some of the cheapest connections are from Prague to Muscat (~ Є400 return, Salam Air) and from Istanbul to Muscat (~ Є350 return, Pegasus Airlines).
- Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Oman include Air France, British Airways, Edelweiss Air, Emirates, Etihad Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, SWISS, and Turkish Airlines.
- Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Oman from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Leverage frequent promotions from European budget carriers like RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to reach a major hub; from there, take a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination, potentially saving hundreds of euros.
40–80% off flights to Oman
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Airlines flying to Oman | Air Arabia, Air France, Air Lingus, Air India, Air India Express, Badr Airlines, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, British Airways, Cham Wings Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Edelweiss Air, Egypt Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Finnair, Flexflight, Flydubai, Garuda Indonesia, Go First, Gulf Air, Iberia, Indigo, Jazeera Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Jordan Aviation Airlines, Kenya Airways, KLM, Kuwait Airways, LATAM, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Neos Air, Oman Air, Pakistan International Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Regent Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, Salamair, Saudia, SpiceJet, SWISS, Taban Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines, Vistara, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi |
---|---|
Airlines of Oman | Oman Air, Salamair |
Main airports in Oman | Muscat International Airport (MCT) Duqm International Airport (DQM) Rustaq Airport (MNH) Salalah Airport (SLL) Sohar Airport (OHS) Khasab Airport (KHS) |
Regular price (roundtrip) | ✈ €400 – €600 (from Europe) ✈ $900 – $1200 (from USA) |
The cheapest time to fly to Oman
The best time to find cheap flights to Oman tends to be during the low season – June to September. It’s the country’s hot season and also an off-peak tourism season with high temperatures and significantly fewer visitors. Everything – including airline tickets – is cheaper.
Flying to Oman in the peak season – November to March – will prove the most costly. These are Omani winter months when the weather is pleasant and cool and the country sees an influx of tourists. Book your flights well in advance to avoid inflated last-minute fares.
Know your time zone
When checking flights and airport transfer times, ensure you know the local time zones. The departure/arrival times on your plane ticket and boarding pass are based on the time zone of the departure/arrival airport – this also applies to the connecting (layover) airports.
Oman has only one time zone – it observes Gulf Standard Time (GST) all year, which is GMT/UTC+4 time zone. There are no daylight saving time clock changes.
Oman is 8 hours ahead of New York, and 7 minutes behind Sydney. Gulf Standard Time is also used by United Arab Emirates. The rest use Arabia states observe Arabia Standard Time, which is an hour behind GST.
Duty-free rules
Oman is serious about the duty-free concession. There is a limit for bringing in certain items, depending on your nationality. Alcoholic drinks such as wine, spirits, or beer usually cannot exceed 2 liters per person (non-Muslims only) and you can carry 200-400 cigarettes or a “reasonable” quantity of tobacco.
Anything above those limits must be declared – at the airport, head to Red Lane to declare your goods.
Avoid currency exchange kiosks at Omani airports
It is always a good idea to bring some cash with you to Oman. The official currency of Oman is the rial (usually abbreviated “OR”, or sometimes “OMR”), subdivided into 1000 baiza (“bz”).
Airports are infamous for making an exuberant amount of money from their currency exchanges due to the extremely high margins, and Omani airports are no exception. Airport kiosks usually charge higher fees which are sometimes hidden within the poorer exchange rates they offer – their business is based on charging extra for being a convenient, last-minute option.
Plan ahead and bring a significant proportion of your spending money in cash. You may also try to exchange some money for the Omani rial at one of the plentiful ATMs located at the airports, and all over the country. Virtually all of them accept foreign Visa and MasterCards.
Airlines of Oman
The national airline of the Sultanate of Oman is Oman Air, operating from its base at Muscat International Airport. Its fleet consists of Airbus A330, Boeing 737, and 787 aircraft, primarily in two-cabin (Economy Class and Business Class) configurations. Oman Air is certified by Skytrax as a 4-Star Airline for the quality of its onboard product and staff service. In compliance with Islamic dietary laws, all meals served onboard are Halal. However, alcoholic beverages are also available on long-haul international flights (excluding inter-Middle East flights, and the Ramadan season).
The other Omani airline, SalamAir, is a low-cost domestic competitor of Oman Air which started its operations in 2017. The airline flies to international destinations in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, and operates domestic flights to connect the major cities in Oman. Its fleet consists of Airbus A320neo, and A321neo, and recently purchased Embraer E2. As a budget carrier, SalamAir offers flights at lower prices in comparison to Oman Air. However, it may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight refreshments, meals, or onboard entertainment.
Flights to Oman
from Australia and New Zealand
- Australia and New Zealand offer robust flight networks to key APAC locations, Oman included. While domestic carriers like Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand provide solid options, several major international airlines also serve these routes. These include ANA, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways — expanding your choices for travel between Australasia and Asia.
There are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Oman. You’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia. Oman Air is currently operating nonstop flights to Muscat from Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Mumbai and Delhi (among other places in Asia). - Airlines have different pricing strategies for different routes. Depending on airline partnerships, demand, and even the time of year, a flight to Oman could be significantly cheaper from Sydney than from Melbourne.
Compare fares from main international airports in Australia: SydneySYD
, BrisbaneBNE
, MelbourneMEL
, PerthPER
, AdelaideADL
, CairnsCNS
, Gold CoastOOL
, CanberraCBR
, DarwinDRW
, and in New Zealand: AucklandAKL
, WellingtonWLG
, ChristchurchCHC
, and QueenstownZQN
. - If you’re looking to save, consider flying from Australia or New Zealand to a primary Asian hub, then catch a connecting flight to Oman with a regional budget airline such as Air Arabia, Air India Express, Flydubai, Indigo, Jazeera Airways, Pegasus Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Salamair, Saudia, and Wizz Air .
For the initial leg of your trip, full-service airlines such as Qantas or Virgin Atlantic offer premium comfort and exceptional service, albeit at a premium price. However, many Asian airlines, including budget carriers, operate out of Australia and frequently feature sales and promotions. For instance, AirAsia runs deals to Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore; Cebu Pacific to Manila; Scoot to Singapore; VietJet Air to Ho Chi Minh City; Jetstar to Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo; Bamboo Airways to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing; Batik Air to Jakarta and Singapore.
40–80% off flights to Oman
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Flights to Oman
from major hubs in Asia
- Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Oman look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
- Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Oman will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
- Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting Oman and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
Flights to Oman dataset
User Review
3.9 (107 votes)Flights to Oman
If you have specific travel dates, it's worth booking as soon as possible. The optimal time to book international flights to Oman is 2–8 months in advance, with a "prime booking window" at 4–6 months before departure for the best bargains.
In economy class, medium to long-haul flights to Oman range from $150 to $600, and can go up to $1,000 for routes exceeding 6,000 km. Round-trip bookings offer savings between 20% and 35%. Strategic planning like early booking, flying in low-season, booking directly with airlines, or chosing a route with a layover can save an additional 5–30%.
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About the author
Maksim Koval
Aviation industry expert, digital editor at Tiket2 since 2010, and the pioneering founder of the Air Traveler Club.
Maksim is a Bali-based seasoned travel writer, avid flyer, tinkerer, photographer, motorbiker, animal lover, and the truest evangelist of the company. His dedication to providing valuable insights and engaging content has established him as a trusted voice in the industry.
You can contact him via email at maksim[at]tiket2.com.