Quick question re departing from Seeb Muscat
Jan 31, 2018, 9:37 am
#16
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,060
New airport opens on March 20th (only a few years late...)
he Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) announced on Wednesday that operations at the new passenger Terminal B of Muscat International Airport will begin on March 20.
Announcing the decision on its Twitter account, MoTC said that operations of all incoming and outgoing flights will be transferred from the current airport to the new one on March 20.
Announcing the decision on its Twitter account, MoTC said that operations of all incoming and outgoing flights will be transferred from the current airport to the new one on March 20.
Jan 31, 2018, 3:27 pm
#18
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Basingstoke, UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 54
Jan 31, 2018, 3:49 pm
#19
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL (for now) and Lifetime Gold, Marriott fan thanks to Bonvoy Moments
Posts: 5,115
Premium check-in counter had a notice warning about bussing and gate security, advised going to gate before advertised boarding time which was good advice
Mar 18, 2018, 8:34 am
#20
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Cheddar
Programs: TG *G 20 years
Posts: 406
The road signs are now pointing to the new terminal rather than the still open old terminal. As a result, I had an unwelcome diversion to the new terminal. It did allow me a very close view of the new terminal not having been stopped at the security gates. The ground floor was far from complete and may take a month or so of work yet. The roadways to the first floor passenger level were still being worked on but should be passable by traffic in a few days. The flags were all flying though.
Mar 18, 2018, 9:31 am
#21
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: BA GGL, A3*G, Mucci de l'expertise des Apps
Posts: 3,364
The road signs are now pointing to the new terminal rather than the still open old terminal. As a result, I had an unwelcome diversion to the new terminal. It did allow me a very close view of the new terminal not having been stopped at the security gates. The ground floor was far from complete and may take a month or so of work yet. The roadways to the first floor passenger level were still being worked on but should be passable by traffic in a few days. The flags were all flying though.
Mar 18, 2018, 10:08 am
#23
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,398
I’ve made two separate visits to Muscat in the early part of March. On the most recent - which happened to be on the 15th - I got into casual conversation with a very pleasant janitor looking after the gents washrooms in the arrival terminal. I commented that I was disappointed to be ‘missing out’ on the swish new airport, by only a matter of days, with its opening set for 20th.
The conversation proceeded thus :
Him : “No, not the 20th”
Me : “But everyone has told me the 20th. Both here in Oman, and back in the UK”
“Yes, that was the official date. But it’s now the 30th. Definitely the 30th”
“How can we be sure it’s the 30th ? The date has been changing for months”
“30th for sure. Final final” he said, with a broad grin.
“Ok. So definitely the 30th. Final final”
As we said our goodbyes, we both chimed in unison “30th, inshallah”
Now ...... you might well be thinking ‘what does an airport janitor know?’.
OR - like me - you might think, the most reliable news often comes from the most unheralded sources.
Mar 18, 2018, 10:12 am
#24
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: BA GGL, A3*G, Mucci de l'expertise des Apps
Posts: 3,364
I'm on BA79 on Wednesday, so officially should be going to the new Terminal when we arrive on Thursday morning, but of course I'm very skeptical! I also have to collect a hire car, so not a clue what will happen there! Normally none of this would bother me, only this time I'm traveling with family including a child and an infant, so that's going to be fun.
I'm definitely with you on this, those on the ground there are going to know much more than any official sources.
I'm definitely with you on this, those on the ground there are going to know much more than any official sources.
Mar 18, 2018, 10:26 am
#26
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,398
Just to add that in my own case, the old terminal functioned perfectly well each time I passed in & out of it, and all personnel I came into contact with were extremely civil.
But of course the new facility is - without doubt - looong overdue !
(I’m not sure whether security checks for international departures (as opposed to regional, which seemed less rigorous) will be quite so exhaustive in the new terminal)
Mar 18, 2018, 10:55 pm
#27
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Cheddar
Programs: TG *G 20 years
Posts: 406
I've spoken to the Avis rental desk in the old airport. They continue there until 3pm Tuesday 20 March local time. Then they will take their records and computers to the new building. They will have desks in both the new arrivals and departures.
The old arrangements were just so easy. It must be little more than 100 yards from the arrival door to sitting in the car.
The old arrangements were just so easy. It must be little more than 100 yards from the arrival door to sitting in the car.
Mar 22, 2018, 10:47 am
#30
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: BA GGL, A3*G, Mucci de l'expertise des Apps
Posts: 3,364
So indeed we did arrive at the new terminal this morning which is now in use. Obviously lots of issues with everyone getting used to the new terminal, everything took an age. Parked at a stand with two airbridges but neither was used, although one of them at least was working and someone was trained to drive it because they moved it out of the way in order to make space to bring steps to the aircraft. We were then bussed to the terminal about 50 yards away. The doors from the entrance way into the arrivals corridor had not been opened, so eventually someone just pulled them and set off the alarms. Despite the warnings that they would be moving to e-visa only from yesterday, this was not the case and they were still selling visas on arrival. BA are telling everyone that an e-visa is required, this was also what the CSM was saying, but in fact there were certainly a good few people on the flight who did not have one and were enquiring about the visa on arrival process. Being on the first bus and with e-Visas in hand (printed versions absolutely definitely required), we were through immigration in about 10 minutes, but then bags took a very long time. They came out in dribs and drabs of about 5 bags at a time over the course of an hour or so. Overall from 787 wheels on the tarmac to driving out of the car park in our hire car was 2 hours 3 minutes.