Hussain Al-Manai
As part of its efforts to enhance the civil aviation sector in the Sultanate of Oman and improve the infrastructure of its airport system, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) today announced the commencement of commercial operations for the southern runway at Muscat International Airport. The new runway has been licensed by the Authority and aims to boost international and domestic flight movements at the airport, in addition to providing multiple takeoff and landing paths in accordance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations.
The southern runway is distinguished by its capacity to accommodate all types of aircraft, including the Airbus A380, as it extends 4 km in length and 45 meters in width. It also contributes to reducing energy consumption by using 24-hour LED lighting and the latest equipment for runway lighting control, in line with advancements in the aviation industry. Moreover, it ensures minimal noise levels in the surrounding areas of the airport, along with speed and flexibility in takeoff and landing operations as needed.
The runway rehabilitation works began in mid-May 2022, with the first phase involving the completion of asphalt coverage and connection to nine new northern taxiways and seven southern taxiways, extending the runway length from 3.3 km to 4 km, along with new service roads linking airport facilities, completed in October 2023. The second phase included recalibrating the current Instrument Landing System (ILS) and meteorological equipment used for aircraft landings in emergency conditions, as well as installing ground navigation lighting on the apron with accompanying tests in mid-January 2024.
The final phase involved the technical and operational testing of the new equipment in coordination with airport operators and other service providers, a prerequisite for the runway’s certification by the Authority.
It is noteworthy that the Civil Aviation Authority ensured that the runway and its current facilities were fully compliant with the ICAO regulations during the rehabilitation works.
