Oman launches bus-flight corridor rescuing stranded passengers as airspace closures continues

OMAN – Oman Air and SalamAir have launched a coordinated bus-transfer operation from Sharjah to Muscat, enabling stranded passengers from the UAE to reach India via connecting flights as regional airspace closures continue disrupting travel across the Middle East.

With Qatar Airways operations suspended due to Qatari airspace closures and flights out of Dubai and Doha grounded, thousands of travelers found themselves unable to depart.

The initiative establishes a structured alternative routing passengers from Sharjah’s Al Jubail Bus Station to Muscat International Airport, where Oman Air and SalamAir operate connecting flights to Indian cities.

For Oman Air passengers, buses depart at 7am and 3pm, reaching Muscat at 3pm and 9pm respectively, with travelers required to arrive 30 minutes before departure.

The response has proven positive, with a SalamAir official confirming discussions to increase the current number of buses. Services run daily until March 5, with morning operations from 9am to 5pm and evening from 8pm to 10.30pm.

Passengers must book flight tickets in advance through either airline, with bus tickets purchased separately through travel agencies.

Despite the new ray of hope, Visa requirements present the primary hurdle. For instance, according to the Indian Embassy in Oman, travelers must apply for an e-Visa in advance through authorized agents on the Royal Oman Police website.

However, the diplomatic and economic implications of Oman’s rescue initiative extend beyond logistics. Travelers undertaking the six-hour road journey described conditions on the ground as calm but marked by anxiety over airspace closures, with some witnessing missile interceptions in the sky.

Those who returned via Muscat reported ticket prices four to five times higher than normal, highlighting the economic pressures of crisis-era travel.

Additionally, this corridor offers lessons in crisis coordination. Properties accommodating stranded guests gain clearer departure timelines, while the initiative demonstrates how regional cooperation can maintain connectivity when primary air hubs fail

 As nations continue extracting citizens through available corridors, Oman’s land-air bridge stands as a blueprint for emergency logistics, proving that alternative transit routes prove essential for maintaining global mobility during unprecedented regional disruption.

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