Flights to Muscat are back in air

Reports of air traffic control equipment being damaged by Gonu are false

Regular flights to Muscat, Oman, have resumed a couple of days after cyclone Gonu hit the country’s eastern coast, forcing the closure of airspace and suspension of services at Seeb International Airport.

Officials from both, the directorate general of civil aviation as well as the airport in Muscat have confirmed that the Muscat airport is now fully operational. “There had been no damage to the air traffic control tower equipment in Muscat as reported,” said an official.

Some airlines, including Oman’s national carrier, Oman Air, resumed operations from Mumbai on Friday itself. But there were delays and some passengers were stranded at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.

Domestic carrier Indian, which also flies to the Gulf, resumed its Muscat service with a flight scheduled to take off at 10pm on Friday. Gulf Air too resumed its Oman operations from Friday. Mohammed Adnan Malek, spokesperson of Gulf Air said, “All flights to and from Muscat to all destinations have resumed.” He added that Muscat was an important hub for Gulf Air.

However, the low cost international subsidiary of Air India, Air India Express will recommence flights to Muscat from today and Air India will resume its normal flight schedule from Sunday.