March 8 (Reuters) – Oman’s Muscat International Airport said on Monday it did not send a message seen by some charter executives that asked private jets to avoid using the site for “additional flights,” to give priority to government and commercial traffic.
“Muscat International Airport continues to welcome and facilitate private jet flights and business aviation operations,” the airport said.
The Financial Times first reported on the message shared online by some executives that featured a letterhead with the Oman Airport logo, asking airlines and operators to cancel any slots falling outside the approved seasonal schedule and to refrain from submitting non-approved flight requests until further notice.
“Due to the current crisis management measures at Muscat International Airport, flight movements are restricted to approved seasonal scheduled services only,” according to the message dated March 6 that was also seen by Reuters.
The message claimed the airport said this measure was necessary to manage congestion and ensure that airport capacity remains within acceptable limits.
The outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran has led to flight cancellations across the Middle East, leaving airlines and governments scrambling to support thousands of stranded passengers.
With most airspace in the region still closed over missile and drone concerns, some people have turned to private jets while charter flights and limited commercial services struggle to evacuate tens of thousands of travelers.
Travelers have shelled out high prices to get out of the region, rushing to airports or heading over land to quieter hubs, with fighter jets occasionally escorting people to passenger jets.
(Reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal and Rhea Rose Abraham and Gnaneshwar Rajan in Bengaluru; Editing by Mark Porter and Aurora Ellis)
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