SalamAir Erbil and Damascus flights: dates and schedules

SalamAir is opening two nonstop routes from Muscat within four days. Muscat to Erbil is scheduled to start on Sunday, October 25, 2026, followed by Muscat to Damascus on Wednesday, October 28. Each route is planned twice a week.

Both services were still future flights when this page was checked. A launch announcement is useful for planning, but the itinerary issued for the passenger's date controls the actual departure time, baggage and check-in deadline.

*Photo: Md Shaifuzzaman Ayon via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. The photograph was taken in February 2021 and illustrates the airline, not either new route or its assigned aircraft.*

The practical answer: SalamAir plans Muscat-Erbil flights on Sundays and Wednesdays from October 25, and Muscat-Damascus flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays from October 28. Check the exact date in SalamAir's booking flow before paying. Review current government travel advice and entry rules before either journey, especially for Syria.

This guide was checked at 4:00 p.m. Gulf Standard Time on October 22, 2026. Airline schedules, entry decisions and security conditions can change quickly.

What SalamAir has announced

SalamAir's October 22 launch notice describes both routes as direct links from Muscat International Airport. In this case, direct also means nonstop: the published schedules do not show an intermediate airport.

The two routes serve different airports, countries and entry systems. Erbil International Airport is in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Damascus International Airport is in Syria. A document accepted for one journey does not establish permission for the other.

Muscat-Erbil flight schedule

The filed schedule reported for the winter season uses local times:

SalamAir's separate Erbil announcement calls Erbil its second destination in Iraq and advertises Lite one-way fares from OMR 54.99. That is a starting fare, not a price guarantee for every date, direction or passenger.

The launch release identifies an Airbus A321neo for the inaugural Muscat-Erbil flight. Schedule reporting lists the A320neo, with selected dates using the A321neo. Treat the aircraft as planned rather than guaranteed because an airline may substitute equipment.

Muscat-Damascus flight schedule

The published schedule for Damascus also uses local times:

SalamAir describes itself as the first Omani airline to operate the route. The schedule currently shows an Airbus A321neo plan, but the booked itinerary and day-of-travel information should decide any aircraft-dependent choice.

The new flight does not make a trip to Syria low risk. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office was advising against all travel to Syria at our check. That is UK government advice, not a universal rule, but it can affect insurance even for travelers from another country. Consult the guidance issued by your own government and confirm whether a policy remains valid before committing money.

Check the operating status before relying on either route

Neither route had reached its planned start when this article was published. Search the exact origin, destination and date on SalamAir's website, then compare every sector with the confirmation received after payment.

An airline announcement is not a live departure board. Close to travel, check SalamAir's flight status, the departure airport and the booking record. Keep the email address and phone number in the reservation current so a schedule message can reach you.

SalamAir's conditions say published times may change between booking and travel. Avoid building a tight separate-ticket connection around a new service. If a later flight, bus or hotel is booked separately, its provider does not automatically have to protect it after a SalamAir change.

Entry documents and travel advice need separate checks

Travelers are responsible for the documents required for their itinerary. An airline may also refuse carriage when required documents are missing, even if a traveler expects to resolve the issue on arrival.

For Erbil, do not assume that a permission issued by the Kurdistan Regional Government has the same validity or geographic scope as an Iraqi federal visa. The UK government's Iraq entry guidance distinguishes the systems and warns that requirements can change. Confirm eligibility with the relevant Iraqi or Kurdistan Region authority and with SalamAir for the passport being used.

The UK government was advising against all but essential travel to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq at our check, and against all travel to other parts of Iraq. Read your own government's current regional advice, insurance terms and any border limitations. Erbil being served by a scheduled airline does not override them.

For Damascus, obtain case-specific advice from the relevant Syrian authority before booking. The UK government's Syria entry guidance warns that a visa can be required and that permission to enter is controlled by the Syrian authorities. Prior travel, nationality, dual nationality and passport history can affect an individual decision. A social-media report or another passenger's experience is not an entry guarantee.

What a Lite booking includes

SalamAir's current fare page says Lite includes one under-seat personal item weighing up to 5 kg. The airline's baggage page gives maximum dimensions of 25 by 33 by 20 cm. A cabin trolley, checked bag, seat selection and other extras are not included unless the chosen bundle or booking record says otherwise.

Compare the final total, not just the starting fare. The useful questions are whether the fare includes the bag you need, what a change would cost, and whether the ticket remains workable if entry permission or the flight date changes.

SalamAir currently offers free online check-in for Lite bookings until four hours before departure. Its general FAQ says airport counters close 60 minutes before departure and passengers should be at the gate at least 20 minutes before departure. Use a stricter deadline in the ticket or airport notice if one is shown.

If the ticket came from a travel agent or another booking site, confirm which company controls changes and refunds. Keep the airline booking reference as well as the seller's order number. A lower third-party price is less useful if the traveler cannot reach the issuer when the schedule moves.

Connections in Muscat and separate tickets

SalamAir's conditions say its flights are not intended to connect with other airlines. Do not assume a separate inbound flight to Muscat will be protected merely because the new Erbil or Damascus departure is on the same day.

For a connection sold on one ticket, check whether baggage is tagged to the final destination and whether the issuing airline treats the whole itinerary as protected. For separate tickets, allow for immigration where applicable, baggage collection, terminal movement, a new check-in deadline and a possible delay. An overnight stop may be the safer choice when missing the onward flight would be expensive or difficult to replace.

Mobile data in Oman and Iraq

An Oman OpenSim eSIM can provide ground mobile data for booking checks, maps and messages before departure or during time in Muscat. An Iraq OpenSim eSIM can support those tasks after arrival in Erbil, subject to the package's live coverage and network availability.

OpenSim did not list a Syria destination plan when checked on October 22. Do not buy an Oman or Iraq plan expecting it to work in Damascus. The Gulf Region product included Iraq but did not list Oman, so it is not presented here as one plan for the full Muscat-Erbil journey.

Check the chosen card's data allowance, validity, network, hotspot support and top-up field at checkout. Keep the usual SIM active if the airline, bank or visa service sends verification texts to that number. An eSIM supplies mobile data where its plan has coverage; it does not provide inflight service, permission to enter, or a safer travel environment.

Ten questions about SalamAir's new routes

When do SalamAir's Muscat-Erbil flights start?

SalamAir plans the first Muscat-Erbil flight for Sunday, October 25, 2026. The route is announced and bookable, but it had not started operating when this guide was checked.

Which days does SalamAir fly from Muscat to Erbil?

The published schedule shows OV381 and OV382 on Sundays and Wednesdays. Search the required date because a twice-weekly pattern can still change after launch.

When do SalamAir's Muscat-Damascus flights start?

The planned start is Wednesday, October 28, 2026. SalamAir lists two flights a week rather than daily service.

Which days does SalamAir fly from Muscat to Damascus?

The current schedule shows OV375 and OV376 on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Confirm the local departure time in the issued itinerary.

Are the Erbil and Damascus flights nonstop?

Yes, the published schedules show nonstop Muscat-Erbil and Muscat-Damascus services. They are separate routes, not one flight calling at both destinations.

What baggage comes with a SalamAir Lite fare?

SalamAir's current Lite rules include one under-seat item up to 5 kg and 25 by 33 by 20 cm. A cabin trolley or checked bag requires another inclusion or purchase unless the booking says otherwise.

Can I get a visa on arrival in Erbil?

That depends on the passport and current Kurdistan Region rules. Confirm eligibility with the responsible authority before travel, and check whether the permission covers only the Kurdistan Region or also the rest of Iraq.

Can I get a Syrian visa on arrival in Damascus?

Do not rely on a general yes or another traveler's report. Ask the relevant Syrian authority and SalamAir about the exact passport and itinerary before purchase. Entry remains at the authorities' discretion.

Is it safe to travel to Erbil or Damascus now?

There is no single answer for every traveler. At our check, the UK government advised against all but essential travel to the Kurdistan Region and against all travel to Syria. Read your own government's current advice and verify insurance coverage.

Does OpenSim sell an eSIM for both new destinations?

OpenSim listed an Iraq product that can be considered for Erbil, but no Syria destination product was available at our check. Oman plans are separate. Verify the countries shown on the live package before checkout.

Recheck before paying and before departure

Use the announcement to understand the planned launch, then use SalamAir's booking record for the trip itself. Recheck the flight, documents, government advice, insurance, baggage and check-in deadline before paying for anything non-refundable.

This page should be reviewed if SalamAir changes either start date, timetable, operating days, flight numbers, aircraft plan or fare rules, or if relevant entry requirements and government travel advice materially change.