Work on the new passenger terminal at Muscat International Airport, Oman, is 97 per cent complete and authorities are awaiting final approvals for starting operations, a report said.

The new airport will have the capacity to handle 20 million passengers a year in the initial stages, which will gradually be increased to 48 million passengers, said the Oman Daily Observer report.

The $1.8-billion terminal has a total area of 580,000 sq m with 118 check-in counters.

Earlier reports said the terminal is expected to be operational by the end of the year.