Muscat: Ahmad Bin Mohammad Al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications said in a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), that the operation of the Salalah New Airport and the shifting of air traffic from the old airport to the new one will start on 15th June, 2015.

This came during the field visit to inspect the last stages of the Salalah Airport Project to ensure the readiness of operators and other stakeholders before opening the airport.

The project includes a passenger terminal over 65,000 square meters, which will accommodate 2 million passengers per annum at the first stage and 4km long and 75-meter wide main runway; which can receive the largest aircrafts including the A380.

The airport will be complete with the latest air navigation systems and auto-landing devices as per international standards and regulation. The project has also a 57-meter high control tower.

The new airport, which cost over 300 million Omani riyals, aims to enhance tourism given Salalah’s moderate weather during the summer attracts thousands of tourists from Oman and abroad.

Many prefer to fly instead of driving the long Muscat-Salalah road stretch, where road accidents claim many lives.

Ahmad Al Toobi, a frequent traveler to Salalah, said that he prefers to take the flight instead of driving as it more safe, short and comfortable.

“I fly to Salalah every year along with my family t to escape the heat”, says Al Toobi.

Another national, Juma Al Marjabi, told Gulf News, that he hopes that the opening of Salalah airport will cut down the flight fares as he finds it difficult to afford to pay for his six family members.

By reducing the fares, many families will take flights that lead to boost tourism in Salalah.

Officials at the Ministry of Tourism believe that the opening of Salalah airport will attract more visitors from Oman and from other Arab countries.

“We expect to attract more than 600,000 visitors this year”, Ahmed Al Balushi, an official at the Ministry of Tourism.

15 people were killed in road accidents on the Muscat-Salalah stretch last summer. Most of those road accidents occurred due to overspeeding and wrong overtaking, according to Royal Oman Police (ROP).