The soon-to-be-launched budget carrier SalamAir will most likely be assigned to the existing terminal at Muscat International Airport once the new terminal complex comes into operation later in 2017, said a report.

According to Mark Rudman, Acting Project Director — Hill International, Principal Consultant for the Design and Supervision of the Muscat and Salalah international airports, the =existing terminal will be refurbished to accommodate the operations of the soon-to-be-launched budget carrier, Oman Daily Observer reported.

SalamAir is gearing up to launch operations before the end of this year, starting with daily flights between Muscat and Salalah. Commencing services with a fleet of three A320s, the carrier is expected to bolster its fleet size as it expands its regional footprint.

The new terminal, which is presently in the final stages of completion, covers an area of around 320,000 sq metres and will include dedicated arrivals, departures and transfers halls, 29 aircraft contact stands, 30 remote aircraft stands, 116 check-in counters, and 6,800 car parking spaces (including 4,000 shaded parking slots).

A modern baggage handling system, capable of handling around 4,800 pieces of luggage at a time, has been designed to screen all five categories of luggage, thereby enabling Muscat to operate flights to destinations in the future that mandate stringent screening specs.

Also substantially in place are facilities that form part of a nationwide Air Traffic Management system implemented as part of the SNC9 package.  Covering not only the main gateways and domestic regional airports, the system also encompasses a network of antennas and masts installed around the country. The ATM system is due to be formally inaugurated next month.