New barrier means park, pay for airport pick-ups

Now, drivers can’t go round the airport to collect people and parking in front of the departure lounge will be penalised

Staff Reporter MUSCAT: A new barrier at the entrance to Muscat International Airport will put an end to drivers circling round as they wait to collect people, in a bid to “organise the traffic,” according to the management.

The new “electronic gate” means drivers will be able to drive to the departures and arrivals halls area just once during certain times of the day.

Any car parked outside the departure lounge for more than three minutes is liable to be towed away, according to Oman Airports Management Company, so drivers who go to the airport circle around as they wait for pickups, rather than park and pay.

The new barrier will prevent that. Now, between set hours, drivers will be unable to circle and will either have to park and pay - or drive out of the airport.

Next to the new “electronic gate”, a sign reads: “The road will be closed from 3am-5am, 10am to 12, 4pm to 6pm, and 7pm to 1am.”

The notice from Oman Airports Management Company, posted via their Twitter account, reads: “As Oman Airports spares no effort in ensuring a smooth transportation to the Departures Building at the current Muscat International Airport Building, a new electronic gate has been added to the route leading to the Departures building in order to organise the traffic. We appreciate your cooperation in supporting this change.”