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About Muscat
Located on the shores of the gorgeous Gulf of Oman is the capital of the country, Muscat. It is a very popular city which is highly renowned for its luxe lifestyle and upscale living. The city was once colonized by the Portuguese and hence, has many Portuguese=-influenced monuments and tourist attractions.
Best time to visit Muscat
Muscat's location is directly above the Tropic of Cancer. Due to this, the weather is hotter and the landscape, arid. Even though it does have the Gulf of Oman on one side, the climate remains hot and dry throughout the year. In fact, summers here are rather unbearable as the temperatures average at 40 degree Celsius. Summers in Muscat start from April and last till October. Out of all the months, June is considered to be the hottest month in Muscat. Hence, travelling to the capital of Oman during these months would be unfavourable for your travel plans. You should know that tourism is at its low due to the excess heat. The summer heat actually makes people stay indoors. With such striking temperatures, it would certainly not be ideal for planning a trip to Muscat. The hotel prices drop drastically in Muscat during the summers. Unsurprisingly, with lack of tourism, the hotel prices are cheap in Muscat during the summers. But since the weather is not ideal for touristy activities, the city witnesses fewer crowds.
With October through February though, the temperatures are extremely low and favourable. The winters months bring forth lovely cold winter breezes. Much like a majority of the desert countries of the Middle East, Oman too, witnesses the same kind of winter where the temperatures drop to a pleasant low and the days are bearably hot. This is considered the ideal time to visit Muscat. November and December are especially the most favourable months to visit Muscat. You can indulge in a plethora of tourist activities, visit some of the finest attractions and engage in some beach fun too. Everything about Muscat turns beautiful and alluring during these months. The hotel and flight prices also see a spike as tourists turn their attention towards Muscat. The price range for hotel and flight bookings see a dramatic spike. The best way to deal with this conundrum would be to make advance bookings of flights and hotels in Muscat. That way, you will be able to make good savings. Not to mention how you can make good use of the money saved for other activities. Muscat also witnesses rainfall with February considered as the wettest month in the city.
Places to visit in Muscat
Muscat's The Royal Opera House is a famous venue that celebrates the music, art and culture of Oman. The white structure with golden and brown interiors is gorgeous and was built on orders by the royal Sultan Qaboos of Oman. The architecture reflects the ubiquitous Omani-style and is perfect to enjoy a luxe evening in the city. The Mutrah Corniche is another lovely place which is located by the Gulf of Oman. While the waterfront offers a stunning view, the structure is heavily inspired by the Arabic architecture. The Al Mirani Fort is also a tourist attraction which is located by the harbour of the Old Muscat. The brown structure built by the Portuguese is quite an attraction in the city. Perched up the harbour of the Old Muscat is the Al Jalali Fort. It was originally built under the role of Philip I of Portugal. The structure was made to protect the harbour after the Ottoman forces attacked the city of Muscat. The historical structure has seen quite a lot of bloodbath and hence, plays an important role in the city's history. You should also visit the Al Alam Palace, which is a ceremonial palace that has been built by Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said.
Things to do in Muscat
The best way to understand more about the history and cultural significance of Oman is to head to the Bait Al Zubair Museum. The place sees many interesting costumes and weapons used in the ancient times. Right outside the museum is the famous Omani village along with souk. Souk is basically a spice village where you will find some of the most exquisite Arabic spices. It is certainly a place to check out and even purchase if you wish to. The Mutrah Souq is one place that would excite the shopaholic in you. The Souq market has room for all kinds of spices, goods and even ethnic Omani jewellery. While there are many tourist attractions that can be checked out in the city, the nightlife and shopping districts are quite the indulgence. From sheshaa parlours to luxe dining restaurants, you will have a great time in the city. The beaches in Muscat are also quite blue and pristine. You can visit the beaches and even take some lovely pictures with the blue waters in the background.
Food and Restaurants in Muscat
Oman's population is predominantly of international descendants. Hence, the restaurants and food establishments are usually constructed in a design to please the international crowd. It is majorly seafood as the city's proximity with the Gulf of Oman enables this. You will find some of the most elegant restaurants and fine dining establishments in the city. Much of them are high-priced and offer an upscale food culture. However, with the exquisite experience, indulging in this scene is certainly recommended. You can visit the Slider Station to relish some tasty hamburgers with an array of slider options provided to the customers. Their gooey chocolate desserts are also a big hit among tourists. To get a more authentic food experience in Oman's Muscat, you should visit Ubhar. The place offers the city's finest Omani cuisine with an exemplary ambience. Their halva and camel biryani are a must-have so do not miss them. The Beach has a luxury overview and faces the breath-taking Gulf of Oman. Not just delicious food but also a stunning view helps this establishment to attract a crowd.
The restaurant offers a slew of interesting seafood including mussels with kaffir lime, lobster tail carpaccio and grilled fish. The platter is certainly to blow your mind. Bin Ateeq in the city has a nice Arabic vibe with the decor reflecting the Omani culture. The dishes are also quite interesting as they range from mutton magbous to harees. The place would give you quite the taste adventure that you have been seeking in Muscat. For a more European and British ambience, you should check out Duke's Bar Muscat. The place is known to be one of the best pubs that you will find in all of Muscat. Not just a fancy pub vibe but the place also has impeccable food with lamb chops, tangines, kebabs and curries taking top honours. Tché Tché is a Jordanian vegetarian cafe. For those who do not wish to revel in a seafood platter or mutton meat, this cafe is perfect for you as you will find the best vegetarian food, including sandwiches, fukhara, salads accompanied by flavoured hookah pots and pipes. It is fairly new and has managed to spread its wings.
How to reach Muscat (Transportation)
Muscat is one of the most accessible cities from India with excellent flight connectivity. There are connecting flights as well as nonstop direct flights to Muscat from many Indian cities such as Mumbai, Kochi, Mangalore, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, to name a few. The demand for Oman and Muscat from India is quite high as many flock over to the Middle Eastern country for employment prospects. Due to this, the flight connectivity to Muscat has also improved drastically. Airlines such as Oman Air, flydubai, GoAir, Srilankan Airlines, IndiGo, Saudia, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, have dedicated flights to Muscat. A majority of airlines of the Middle East have plane services flying to Muscat. Although several direct flights are available to the city, the most popular route to Muscat chosen by airlines is to fly from the West coast of India. In fact, some of the flights have layovers in Dubai and Bahrain. Besides direct flights, other international routes to Muscat fly from Dubai and Bahrain as they have the best connectivity.
The flight duration to Muscat from India ranges from three hours and forty minutes to seven hours and forty minutes. The prices for cheap flight tickets to Muscat depend on the duration and airlines chosen. The flight tickets to Muscat are quite cheap and affordable. Aside from tourism, a majority of the crowd from India travel to Muscat for professional purposes and hence, the demand is always prevalent. Booking flights to Muscat will come with great online deals. As long as you choose a good airline with great miles benefits, you will be able to snag some cheap flight tickets to Muscat. In fact, if you book in advance and do not opt for peak tourism season, you will be able to avail some online flight deals to Muscat. Booking flights, as well as hotels in Muscat, would further lead you to some massive discounts online. It is essential that you make prior flight bookings to Muscat if you want to be eligible for some of their online deals. The hotel prices vary depending on the tourism season. The dry and hot season witness fewer tourists with a drop in the hotel prices.
About Air India Express
Air India Express is a recognised low-cost airline subsidiary of India's national flag carrier airline Air India. The airline's headquarters is located in Kochi, Kerala. All the operations of Air India Express are carried under Air India Express Limited. In total, Air India Express operates about 649 flights in a week to over 33 destinations in the domestic routes and international routes. The airline has recorded to carry close to 4.3 million passengers in a year to about 140 city pairs. Along with Kochi, the airline's second hub is also in Kerala's Kozhikode. Operations of Air India Express commenced in 2005 when it launched three flights that took off from three of Kerala's cities, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Kochi. The main idea behind introducing the low-cost carrier was to bring forth convenient connectivity for short-haul international routes such as the Middle East and Southeast Asian cities. The airline mainly catered to the expatriate community of India settled in these countries. With a surge in the popularity of low-cost carrier, Air India also joined the bandwagon by introducing Air India Express as its response to the world. Air India Express also caters to domestic routes of Indian cities along with short-haul international cities.
The airline enjoys a decent six per cent market share in its origin country, India, while also receives a 13.3 per cent market share in the India - Gulf travel market. In 2016, the airline announced that they had earned a net profit for the first time since its genesis. Accounts of the same suggest that Air India Express made a net profit of about USD 51 million (INR 361.68 crore) in the financial year 2015-16 against a registered loss of INR 61 crore, recorded in the same financial year. In the same year, the airline witnessed a surge in passenger load factor, which stood at 82.3 per cent, as opposed to the 81.4 per cent recorded in the previous year. The daily aircraft activities also increased from 10.8 hours to 11.3 hours following a surge in demand for the airline. It managed to carry about 2.80 million passengers in the financial year 2015-16.
In 2016-17, the airline witnessed yet another year of profit with its net revenue standing at USD 42 million (ISD 296.7 crore). The total revenue also saw growth with the amount adding up to USD 470 million (INR 3,335 crore). The average aircraft activities recorded also witnessed a spike from 11.3 hours to 12.2 hours daily. Capacity offered by Air India Express further enhanced as it went up to 33 per cent. Significant changes and progressive increase in the fleet size was also witnessed. From 17 aircraft, the airline roped in a few more aircraft to bring its fleet size to a total of 23. In 2018, the airline yet again announced a net profit of USD 37 million (INR 262 crore), making it a hattrick for the airlines.
Fleet size of Air India Express
As of 2020, Air India Express' fleet size stands at 25 which only consists of Boeing 737-800s. The Boeing 737 Next-generation or commonly referred to as 737NG or 737 NextGen, is a narrow-body aircraft that is powered by two engines and is produced by the parent company, Boeing Commercial Airlines. The same was launched in 1993 as a third-generation derivative to the Boeing 737. The aircraft offers several perks and upgrades such as a larger wing with a wider wingspan and better fuel capacity with higher maximum take-off weights. The aircraft is also equipped with CFM International CFM56-7 engines along with a glass cockpit and an upgraded interior configuration and layout. The modern aircraft is both, economically efficient and ecologically sound for the operations of Air India Express. They are perfect for short and medium-haul flights and have hence, been used by the airline for its operations.
Baggage Allowance
Air India Express' baggage allowance varies from the international cities it caters to. For hand baggage, the airline allows a maximum weight of 7 kg that can be carried in the cabin. The weight includes duty-free shopping bags as well. The total dimension of the baggage should not exceed 115 cm and is free of cost per passenger. It is essential for such bags to fit under the seat in front of the passenger or in the overhead bin. Along with the 7 kg hand baggage, Air India Express also allows an additional piece of bag that could include a handbag or a laptop bag. In case the baggage allowed as hand luggage exceeds the weight as stated by the airline, then extra charges will be applied. The airline does recommend the passenger to carry only valuable articles in the hand luggage. Often when the hand luggage exceeds the weight specified by the airline, the passenger is requested to check-in the bag.
As for checked baggage, Air India Express allows the passengers to carry about 40 kg for adults and children while baggage of infants can weight up to 10m kg. These are the weight requirements for first class passengers. The business class passengers are allowed to carry about 35 kg weighing baggage. The economy class passengers are allowed to carry 25 kg weighing bags. The weight, as stated by the airline, should not be exceeded by the passenger. Excess baggage weight will attract tariffs levied by the airline at the airport. Not to mention how the dimensions of the baggage are crucial. The checked baggage cannot have a dimension exceeding 158 cm. Additionally, you are allowed to purchase extra weight for the baggage that can be found at the airport's check-in counter. While both the classes do not offer special baggage for travellers with infants, they do allow the carrying of one extra handbag to cater to the needs of the baby's products.
In-flight services
As part of their in-flight services, Air India Express brings exquisite facilities such as comfortable leather seats with legroom. Passengers can also choose a seat ahead of the journey on the airline's website. Further, seat preferences can be chosen while booking an Air India Express flight too. The hospitality experienced on an Air India Express flight is top-notch as the trained staff are very friendly and accommodating. There are provisions to help out passengers travelling with kids as well. One can request for noise-cancelling headphones and further enjoy the in-flight meals catered by the airlines. The food on Air India Express flights is truly a revelation and something that many passengers have affirmed.
Popular routes and top cities for Air India Express
The airline's network to a majority of Gulf destinations includes about 33 cities and service of 649 flights in a week. Air India Express' low-cost flights can be availed by travellers who take up some of their flights such as Air India Express Dubai, Air India Express Doha, Air India Express Kuwait, Air India Express Riyadh, Air India Express Abu Dhabi, Air India Express Salalah and more. They are perfectly connected with Indian airports on the West coast of the country. As for its Southeast Asian operations, the airline has phenomenal connectivity as well. Air India Express Singapore services enable network connectivity to cities in the South India such as Chennai, Madurai, Kochi, Trichy and Coimbatore.
As of 2020, Air India Express provides flight services to international cities such as Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Doha and Kuwait City, to name a few. The domestic route connections of Air India Express is just as impressive. It caters to many metropolitan as well as small cities in the country.
Why travel by Air India Express?
Air India Express is a low-cost carrier that enables cheap and affordable flights to passengers. The airline offers an array of the domestic route and international route connections which help make it a viable option for many travellers. Not just the connectivity but even the in-flight services experience on Air India Express is quite decent. Although, as low-cost carriers, not a lot of world-class in-flight services can be enjoyed, the airline still brings the best facilities to offer a comfortable journey to its passengers. With the growth in its popularity, the airline has also enabled several new features that help travellers pick the said airline for their journey. These include receiving a dedicated Air India Express flight schedule on the airline's website, facilities of web check-in for passengers, learning more about the flight status, to name a few.
Further, you can also book an Air India Express flight from various online travel portals as the option is available on all sites. You might even receive some benefits and combo offers that cannot be missed out. If these are reasons enough for you to pick Air India Express, then there is always the flexibility to choose from a first-class, business class and economy class comfort. The airline's flights do accommodate these cabins and are ideal for passengers who wish to get the comfort and space that an economy class might not provide.
About Muscat Airport
Muscat International Airport, which was formerly referred to as Seeb International Airport is located in Seeb, which is about 32 km away from the capital city of Oman, Muscat. The airport plays as a hub to domestic carriers Oman Air and Salam Air, both featuring flights that fly from Muscat International Airport to regional and international destinations.
About Airport Terminals
Muscat International Airport started with one passenger terminal but soon expanding to introduce a new terminal building to add to its infrastructure. Currently, there are two functioning terminal buildings out of which, the newer terminal has been built to cater to world-class stature for being extravagant.
Terminal 1 is the new state-of-the-art building that is located in the north of the original terminal. It opened in 2018 and has since managed to accommodate a capacity of 20 million passengers in a year. More expansion plans are under works as the airport body plans to increase the terminal's passenger capacity from 24 to 48 million in a year. The terminal is sprawled over 580,000 sqm with about 118 check-in counters, 82 immigration counters, ten baggage claim conveyor belts, 45 gates and an Air Traffic Control tower which stands at the height of 97 m. Terminal 1 nestled between the old and new runway and also has the capacity to handle massive aircraft, including the Airbus A380s and Boeing 747s.
Terminal 2 is a solo building that is two-storyed and was opened back in the 1970s. The airport with this terminal came into existence as a replacement to the Bait al-Falaj airport. Over the years, the terminal has witnessed several expansions and upgradations to accommodate the growing numbers of passengers flying in and out of Oman. There are 58 check-in counters, four baggage claim conveyor belts, 23 departure gates, service counters and duty-free shops. The terminal does not have jetbridges but transports passengers and crew using shuttle bus services within the airport premise. Ever since the new terminal opened in 2018, all the flight operations, both international and domestic, have been shifted to the new building. Plans to develop the old terminal are in the works. The airport authority is outlining a proposal to build the terminal into a low-cost carrier.
The airport originally had a single runway which is capable of accommodating aircrafts such as Boeing 747-400 and Boeing 777. The new runway though is far more accomplished as it can accommodate bigger aircrafts such as Antonov An-225, Boeing 747-8 and Airbus A380. The older runway is currently shut down for expansion purposes, along with the old terminal.
About Airport Authority
Muscat International Airport is owned and operated by Oman Airports. Over the years since the operations of Muscat Airport fell under Oman Airports' wings, the airport authority has been working tremendously on expansion and development plans to upscale the airport's premise.
Top airlines flying from Muscat International Airport
Oman sees tremendous flight action from Indian cities and the Middle East ones, respectively. Muscat International Airport has reserved flight operations for Indian airlines. Some of the important Indian airlines operating from Muscat International Airport are Air India, Air India Express, GoAir, IndiGo and SpiceJet. They have dedicated flights that fly to and from various Indian cities. Most of the cities that have direct flights to Muscat include Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Mangalore, Hyderabad and more. Specific cities in Kerala such as Kochi, Kannur, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram have direct flights connecting to Muscat International Airport. Hence, there is space accommodated for activities of Indian airlines.
Similarly, there are many international airlines too that operate from Muscat International Airport. Air Arabia, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, British Airways, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, KLM, Oman Air, Pakistan International Airlines, Qatar Airways, SalamAir, Saudia, Srilankan Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines, are some of the airlines that operate from Muscat International Airport. These airlines connect to major international cities such as London, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Cairo, Paris, Istanbul and Bangkok. The airport can only accommodate one cargo carrier namely, Cargolux, which travels to Luxembourg.
Facilities at Muscat International Airport
Lounge - Muscat International Airport has the famous Primeclass Lounge which offers a slew of facilities that are open 24/7. The lounge is on the fifth floor of the terminal. They offer game zone, private suites, prayer areas, family rooms, spas, smoking areas, cinema and more such facilities. They also have buffet services and international cuisines.
Hotels - You can make hotel bookings at the airport as there are dedicated booths and counters. It would be easy to get an idea of the numerous airports located in Oman.
Baggage - The airport has excellent baggage services such as trolleys, porter facilities and luggage wrapping. You can find access to trolleys at all convenient places at the Muscat International Airport. Along with this, you can also avail porter services. You will need to book porter services from the airlines, though. Or you can also go to the airport's information desk and book a porter service. There are plastic wrapping services for luggage. It is recommended as sealing bags would help evade damage, mishandling, drug smuggling, theft and more.
Smoking zones - Smoking in public is prohibited. Hence, the airport has reserved specific smoking zones where passengers can smoke. They are present in the Departures transit area as well as Arrivals public concourse.
Medical services - The airport caters to medical services along with emergency paramedic. There are first aid rooms that are present at various locations of the airport. Pharmacies are also available at regular intervals of the terminal.
Prayer rooms - There are separate dedicated prayer rooms for men and women at the airport terminal. The prayer rooms are located in pairs and are present at the departure and arrivals zones of the terminal. Details of the same can be found on Muscat International Airport's website as well as the information desk of the airport.
Nursing stations - To cater to new mothers with infants, the airport has installed various nursing stations and baby care rooms. The maps located at the airport will guide you to these rooms. They are well-maintained and regularly sanitized. Not to mention how they also have baby essentials, in case the parents exhaust their products.
WiFi - Free WiFi can be availed at the airport. You can log in to the system by learning about the same at the airport's information desk. You can further receive more details on Muscat International Airport's website.
Special assistance - You can opt for special assistance at the airport. It would be more convenient to get in touch with the airlines as that would give them time to arrange for all the necessary requests. Special assistance is mostly granted to senior citizens, expectant mothers, mobility disabled and more.
Spa - Muscat International Airport has a dedicated Be Relax Spa which would transport you from all the hustle-bustle of the airport. The spa's decor is of high quality, and the services are also world-class. One can easily relax at the airport's spa while waiting to board flights. There is premium also offers available for travellers. The spa offers a plethora of services ranging from aromatherapies to nail care.
Restaurants and cafe - Food establishments and joints are spread across the terminal of the airport. You can find all kinds of food at the airport from vegetarian to non-vegetarian to vegans. Muscat International Airport also has exquisite dining experiences at the lounge facilities.
How to reach Muscat International Airport
Muscat International Airport is perfectly located between Muscat and Al-Seeb cities. If you are travelling from Muscat, you should take Sultan Qaboos Highway which connects from the west of Muscat City. The same route needs to be followed if you are coming from Seeb. Reaching the Muscat International Airport from other parts of Oman is very easy.
Public buses and shuttle services
If you have booked your accommodations within the city, then you can avail shuttle bus services. It would be imperative that you complete your immigration and other essential formalities before you can get to the bus. Besides the hotel shuttle buses, there are public transportations also available at the airport. Operated by Mwasalat Transport Company, the bus station is situated on the ground floor, close to Muscat International Airport building. Business and first-class passengers get the luxury of services provided by the airport where they will be transported to their destinations from the airport. You can do the same to reach the Muscat International Airport.
Car rentals and taxicabs
Right outside the Muscat International Airport, you can find taxi services. There are booths at the arrivals where you can book car rentals and taxicabs as well. If you check out the Muscat International Airport's official website, you will be able to directly call up some of the car rental services and book them online or on the phone. The offices are open 24/7, making it perfect for travellers. Besides this, there are taxicab services and airport shuttle cars also available from hotels and accommodations.
