Oman Air has signed an agreement with international tour operator Fun & Sun to expand direct flight services between Russia and the Dhofar Governorate as part of efforts to increase inbound tourism and diversify Oman’s tourism source markets.
The agreement was signed in Salalah during the inauguration of Grand Tours’ new headquarters under the patronage of Ibrahim bin Said Al Busaidi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, and attended by representatives from the aviation and tourism sectors.
Under the agreement, Oman Air will resume direct flights between Moscow and Salalah in September 2026, initially operating two flights per week.
The frequency will increase to five weekly flights in November 2026. The airline will also launch direct flights from the Russian cities of Kazan and Yekaterinburg, expanding air connectivity between Russia and Oman.
Grand Tours also signed an agreement with Fun & Sun Kazakhstan to launch a direct flight program between Kazakhstan and Dhofar Governorate. The service will begin on October 20, 2026, with four weekly flights, supporting tourism from the Central Asian market.
The new flight programs are expected to bring more than 40,000 tourists to Dhofar during the upcoming tourism season, supporting the tourism and hospitality sectors.
Salem bin Khalid Tabook, Founder and CEO of Grand Tours, commented that the expansion reflects increasing demand for Oman as a tourism destination. Tabook added that discussions are underway with Oman Air to introduce a direct flight program to Muscat from four international cities, offering around 1,500 seats per week during the winter season from November 2026 to May 2027.
Yaroslav Stepanyuk, Commercial Director of Fun & Sun, noted that the expansion follows the results of the previous tourism season and is intended to increase visitor arrivals from Russia and Kazakhstan. Stepanyuk added that cooperation with Grand Tours has supported the launch of the Kazakhstan program.
Ignacio Bosch, Acting Chief Commercial Officer of Oman Air, remarked that the airline will expand its services to Dhofar by increasing flights from Moscow and introducing routes from Kazan and Yekaterinburg.
Bosch stated that Oman Air also continues to operate the Dubai-Salalah route throughout the year, seasonal Bahrain-Salalah flights, and additional domestic services between Muscat and Salalah.
During the Khareef season, the airline operates up to 14 daily flights on the Muscat-Salalah route, including four wide-body aircraft services, with plans to operate seven daily flights during the winter season.
The agreements are part of efforts to improve air connectivity with key tourism markets and support the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 by increasing tourism’s contribution to the national economy.
