Oman Air to debut direct Muscat–Sochi flights

Oman Air is expanding its European network with the launch of a new direct service to Sochi, Russia’s largest resort city on the Black Sea. The route marks the airline’s second destination in Russia and responds to what it described as “growing demand” from Russian travellers visiting the sultanate.

 

Starting 2 July 2026, the weekly year-round flights between Muscat and Sochi will operate every Thursday, departing Muscat International Airport at 20:05 and arriving in Sochi International Airport (AER) at 23:30 local time. The return flight will leave AER at 00:30, landing back in Muscat at 05:55. The service will be operated using the airline’s Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft.

 

Known internationally as the host of the 2014 Winter Olympics and locally as the Russian Riviera, Sochi is a year-round destination offering pebble beaches, neoclassical architecture, lush parks such as the palm-lined Arboretum, and the world’s northernmost tea plantations. The city also serves as a gateway to the Caucasus Mountains, attracting travellers for skiing and snowboarding in winter and waterfalls and natural swimming spots in summer.

 

Commenting on the new service, Con Korfiatis, CEO of Oman Air, said: “Our network continues to evolve as we identify opportunities to connect Oman with high-potential markets. The launch of Sochi builds on the strong performance of our Moscow services and reflects growing point-to-point demand between Russia and Oman.”

 

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The airline currently operates up to 11 weekly flights between Muscat and Moscow and recently launched charter services between Moscow and Salalah in December 2025, expected to bring more than 7,000 Russian visitors to Dhofar this season.

 

Oman Air reported a 34% rise in inbound point-to-point traffic, carrying 5.8 million passengers in 2025, an 8% increase compared to 2024 and 57% higher than in 2022. The airline’s growth trajectory outpaces broader market trends and aligns with the sultanate’s tourism momentum. Oman welcomed 3.9 million international visitors in 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of around 3%, according to the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.

 

Over the past year, the airline has expanded its global network with new routes to Amsterdam, Taif, Baghdad and Copenhagen, alongside increased flight frequencies, enhanced codeshare partnerships and membership in the oneworld Alliance, providing access to a worldwide network of more than 900 destinations.

 

Looking ahead, Oman Air will continue its expansion with two new long-haul routes: the first-ever non-stop Muscat–Singapore service starting 2 July and the Muscat–Kigali route launching in June. It currently serves more than 40 destinations across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

 

For more information, visit omanair.com