Oman’s capital Muscat is set for a major jump in global connectivity in 2026, as new routes to Singapore, Sochi, Kigali and Taif position the city as a pivotal hub between Europe, Asia, Africa and the Gulf.
Muscat’s New 2026 Route Map at a Glance
Oman Air and Oman’s aviation authorities have confirmed a wave of new international services from Muscat that will progressively come online through 2026, targeting high-potential destinations in Southeast Asia, Russia, East Africa and western Saudi Arabia. The new links to Singapore, Sochi, Kigali and Taif are designed to grow point-to-point traffic while feeding connecting flows across the oneworld alliance and Oman Air’s wider network.
Together, the routes are expected to strengthen Muscat International Airport’s role as a mid-scale transfer hub, offering an alternative to larger Gulf competitors by focusing on schedule optimisation and niche markets. For travellers, the 2026 expansion means more nonstops to emerging leisure and business destinations, shorter journeys through the Middle East, and better access to religious and conference travel in the wider region.
The new services also align closely with Oman’s economic diversification plans, which place aviation and tourism at the centre of long-term growth. Officials have consistently framed route approvals as part of a broader push to attract foreign investment, widen logistics links and draw more visitors to the sultanate’s own beaches, deserts and heritage cities.
Muscat–Singapore: Oman Air Returns to Southeast Asia’s Powerhouse
After a nine-year absence, Oman Air will return to Singapore in mid-2026 with direct flights between Muscat and Changi Airport. The airline has announced that the route will launch on 2 July 2026, operated four times weekly and timed to connect with key long-haul services. The decision marks a renewed vote of confidence in Southeast Asia’s demand for high-quality, mid-market Gulf connections.
Singapore’s role as a financial centre, cruise gateway and meetings and events hub makes it particularly attractive for Oman Air, which has been seeking destinations that combine strong leisure appeal with premium and corporate traffic. The new flights will restore a direct Oman–Singapore link that was dropped in 2017 and will operate with Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft fitted with a two-class cabin.
Crucially for international travellers, the schedule is being aligned to enable same-day connections over Muscat to and from European cities such as London, Paris and Frankfurt. With Oman Air now a member of the oneworld alliance, passengers can also connect via Singapore on partner airlines deeper into Australia, Japan and Southeast Asia, using Muscat as a quieter, smaller-scale alternative to larger Gulf hubs.
For visitors entering Oman via Singapore, the new route provides a fresh option for multi-stop itineraries combining city breaks in the city-state with desert, mountain and coastal experiences in the sultanate. Travel agents in both markets are expected to package Muscat and Salalah more aggressively once the route opens in July.
Sochi Service Deepens Oman–Russia Leisure and Tourism Links
Oman Air is also pushing further into the Russian leisure market with a new Muscat–Sochi route, due to commence on 2 July 2026. The carrier has confirmed a weekly, year-round service to the Black Sea resort city, which has branded itself as the “Russian Riviera” thanks to its combination of beaches, subtropical climate and access to the Caucasus Mountains.
The Sochi launch comes on the back of strong performance on Oman Air’s existing Moscow–Muscat services and seasonal charter flights between Moscow and Salalah. Those operations have highlighted growing outbound interest among Russian travellers in Oman’s winter sun, beaches and desert escapes, prompting the airline to add a second Russian gateway.
The new Sochi flights will be operated by Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft and are intended to capture both Russian holidaymakers heading to Oman and Omani and Gulf residents interested in Black Sea and mountain getaways. For Muscat, the route reinforces the city’s status as a connecting point between Russia, the Middle East and the wider oneworld network, even as Russian aviation remains in flux internationally.
Travellers planning to use the Muscat–Sochi connection should expect a weekly pattern focused on peak leisure days. While the schedule is not as dense as larger Gulf carriers operating to Russia, industry observers note that Oman Air’s strategy is to prioritise profitable, sustainable frequencies over rapid capacity growth.
Muscat–Kigali: A New East Africa Bridge for Business and MICE Travel
In East Africa, Oman Air has confirmed plans to launch direct flights between Muscat and Kigali with effect from June 2026. The decision was announced in Muscat during an official visit by Rwanda’s foreign minister and is part of a wider aviation and logistics cooperation package between the two countries.
The Kigali route is expected to start with twice-weekly passenger services, subject to regulatory approvals. Oman Air Cargo has already highlighted Kigali as a strategic freight gateway, citing demand for perishables, pharmaceuticals and express shipments moving between East Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Using Boeing 737 aircraft, bellyhold capacity on the passenger flights will be a key component of the business case.
For travellers, the new connection offers a fresh option to access Rwanda’s rapidly developing tourism sector, anchored by mountain gorilla trekking, lake resorts and a growing reputation as a meetings and conferences destination. Muscat’s location allows for same-day links to and from key Indian, Gulf and European cities, opening multi-stop itineraries that combine safari, ecotourism and Gulf beach stays.
The Kigali launch also reflects a broader diplomatic and economic realignment. Oman and Rwanda recently signed multiple agreements covering logistics, dry ports, data centres and aviation cooperation, underlining that the air link is part of a larger push to integrate supply chains and digital infrastructure between the Gulf and East Africa.
Taif Joins Oman Air’s Growing Saudi Network
Closer to home, Taif in western Saudi Arabia has become Oman Air’s fifth destination in the kingdom, with scheduled Muscat–Taif flights inaugurated on 31 January 2026. The route operates three times weekly and targets both religious traffic bound for the nearby holy city of Mecca and leisure travellers drawn to Taif’s cooler climate and mountainous scenery.
Served by Boeing 737 aircraft, the new Taif flights supplement existing Oman Air services to Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam and Madinah. For Saudi residents, they provide an additional option for short-break travel to Oman’s beaches and heritage sites, while also offering one-stop connections over Muscat to onward destinations in Asia and Europe.
On the Saudi side, the operator of Taif International Airport has framed the Muscat link as part of a strategy to bring more international carriers into secondary cities, easing pressure on the main gateways and boosting regional tourism. For Oman Air, Taif strengthens its position in a key neighbouring market at a time when competition for Gulf–Saudi traffic is intensifying.
Passengers considering the new service should note that flight days are currently set for peak demand periods and may be adjusted as the market develops. With relatively short block times between Muscat and Taif, the route is also expected to attract business travellers commuting between the two countries.
Strategic Impact on Muscat as a Mid-Scale Hub
Collectively, the new flights to Singapore, Sochi, Kigali and Taif support Oman’s ambition to elevate Muscat into a competitive but human-scale transfer hub. Rather than chasing the massive capacity and global reach of larger Gulf carriers, Oman Air is using a targeted approach to fill white spaces in the market and link emerging destinations that are underserved by nonstops.
By focusing on a mix of leisure, religious, VFR (visiting friends and relatives) and business traffic, the airline aims to smooth seasonality and sustain year-round demand. Routes such as Muscat–Sochi and Muscat–Kigali, for example, open new corridors for winter sun, ecotourism and conference travel, while Taif taps directly into religious tourism and cross-border family visits.
Oman Air’s membership in oneworld further amplifies the effect of each new destination. Passengers can now earn and redeem miles across partner airlines, access a wider network of lounges and book through itineraries that use Muscat as a connecting point without necessarily flying Oman Air end-to-end. This alliance connectivity is particularly important for Singapore and Kigali, which serve as regional hubs for their own surrounding markets.
For Muscat International Airport, the 2026 expansion brings additional transfer flows and justifies ongoing investments in facilities, retail and ground handling. Airport officials have repeatedly emphasised that the goal is a smooth, less congested experience that contrasts with the scale and intensity of larger Gulf hubs, a positioning that may prove attractive to a segment of premium and leisure travellers.
What Travellers Need to Know for 2026 Bookings
For passengers planning 2026 itineraries, the key dates to note are 31 January for the start of Muscat–Taif operations, June for the planned launch of Muscat–Kigali and 2 July for the inaugural Muscat–Singapore and Muscat–Sochi services. As with any new routes, schedules and launch dates remain subject to final regulatory approvals and operational readiness, so travellers are advised to monitor airline announcements as they firm up their plans.
Capacity on the new routes will initially be moderate, especially for Sochi and Kigali, where Oman Air is starting with low weekly frequencies. That means peak holiday and event periods could sell out quickly, particularly for travellers connecting onward from Europe or Asia using alliance partners. Early booking will be important for those targeting school holidays, religious seasons or major conferences.
From a product perspective, the routes will generally be operated by Oman Air’s Boeing 737 family, featuring a two-class configuration with lie-flat or deep-recline seats in business class and standard economy cabins. While these are narrow-body services rather than long-haul widebodies, the airline is positioning them as part of a full-service journey, with lounge access and through-checking available for eligible passengers and itineraries.
Finally, travellers using Muscat as a connection point should take into account minimum connection times and potential visa or transit requirements, particularly if they plan to break their journey and spend time in Oman. With new links to Singapore, Sochi, Kigali and Taif coming online across 2026, Muscat is set to feature more prominently on global route maps, and informed planning will help passengers make the most of the expanded options.