Oman Airport Management Company seeks thousands of volunteers for new airport trials

A total of 17,000 Oman residents – citizens and expats – are being sought to give their feedback on the new Muscat International Airport, according to Omani officials.

Oman Airport Management Company (OAMC) launched the campaign with a roadshow, ‘#JoinTheTrials’, on November 19, which will be held at several commercial and educational institutions, including Oman Avenues Mall to start with, followed by Muscat and Qurm City Centers and Muscat Grand Mall (MGM).

According to Pablo Lorenz, trials manager, OAMC, interested people from Muscat should register themselves on omanairportstrials.om.

According to the campaign’s official website, the trials are “a critical phase in identifying any problem areas that need attention and validating that the facility and any staff members are ready for day-to-day operation.”

The website notes that each trial will include as many as 3,000 people and up to 10,000 pieces of luggage.

As part of the trials, each participant will be given a “role” to play, complete with a booking and destination, and will be checked-in, processed through immigration and security and back again upon their simulated re-entry into the Sultanate.

“You [the participant] might be departing to Milan, or arriving from Paris for a holiday in the Sultanate, or transiting to the USA, requiring processing through a specific control area,” the website notes. “It will be update to the airport team to guide you correctly.

“Every employee in every organization needs to know their role, be familiar with the building and facilities and of course understand the safety features and procedures completely. Displays must show the right information, signs point to the right place and all systems be active,” the website adds.

“Passengers must arrive and depart smoothly, aircraft depart on time, and assistance be available for those with reduced mobility and other special needs. Most of all, every safety and security process from hygiene operations to sniffer dogs must be perfect.”

Once completed, the new airport – Oman’s largest ever infrastructure project – is expected to have the capacity to process as many as 20 million travelers each year.