Oman's Salalah resort received its first direct flight from Russia on December 29 as Oman Air flight WY 2184 landed from Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, marking the beginning of a programme operated by Russian tour operator FUN&SUN running through to May 9, 2026.

The inaugural flight departed at full capacity with holiday tours already sold out, FUN&SUN's press service told RIA Novosti. The nearest available booking date is January 17, 2026.

Flights will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays, departing Sheremetyevo at 7.15am and arriving in Salalah at 3.15pm. Return journeys leave Oman at 11.55pm, landing back in Moscow the following day at 6.10am.

Russian airlines and tour operators are aggressively pivoting to new destinations as Western sanctions and airspace bans squeeze traditional routes and revenues. Cut off from much of Europe and facing restricted access to North American markets, carriers have redeployed capacity toward the Middle East, Central Asia, the Caucasus and parts of Africa and Latin America, while building up holiday traffic to friendly hubs like Dubai, Antalya and Sharm el-Sheikh.

The flight time of around six and a half hours is considerably shorter than journeys to many Southeast Asian resorts. Fares include 20 kilograms of checked baggage, five kilograms of hand luggage, hot meals, drinks and snacks. Tour packages range from two to 20 nights, with connecting flights via Muscat also available.

Salalah, a resort on the coast of the Sea of Oman and the capital of Dhofar province, borders Yemen. 

Oman Air plans to launch regular flights from St Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Sochi from autumn 2026, with Kazan being considered for religious tourism development. The airline plans to transport more than 70,000 passengers from Russia in 2026 compared to 28,000 in 2024.

Salalah is experiencing rapid hotel infrastructure development. By early 2027, the region plans to open 12 new four and five-star hotels under major international brands, including a large Rixos property. Receiving operators currently offer accommodation in 19 high-class hotels.

Package tours with flights and all-inclusive hotel accommodation are priced on average more expensively than Egypt but cheaper than the UAE, with prices starting from RUB136,000 ($1,440) for two people with flights.

Oman now offers visa-free entry for Russians, direct flights from Moscow and the ability to combine beach holidays with excursion programmes. The country is considered one of the safest globally.