OmanObserver_30-06-13

2
OMAN
Congested parking
lots and the problem
of inding a space
have become a daily
scene at Muscat
International
Airport in spite of
the expansion of the
parking lot by Oman
Airports Management
Company, the body
tasked with managing
and operating the
airport’s facilities
including the car park
SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013
Passenger traffic at
airports up 10pc
MUSCAT — The total passenger traf-
ic including transit and transfer passengers
through Muscat International
Airport has increased by 10 per cent
to 3,416,394 passengers during the
irst ive months of 2013 compared
to 3,100,706 passengers for the same
period of 2012.
The statistics released by the Air
Transport Department at the Public
Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA)
pointed out that the number of arrival
passengers increased by 9 per cent
to 1,728,640 passengers at the end
of May 2013 compared to 1,584,769
passengers for the same period of
2012.
The number of departing passengers
has also increased by 13 per cent
to 1,662,902 passengers at the end
of May 2013 compared to 1,472,959
passengers for the same period last
year.
The increase in arrival and departure
trafic into Muscat International
OCCI to hold Ramadhan Nights
MUSCAT — Oman Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (OCCI) will organise
during Ramadhan ive nights that will focus
on economic sectors in the presence
of ministers, under-secretaries, heads
and members of the sectoral committees,
professional associations and the
economic committees at the State Council
and Majlis Ash'shura.
This came in a statement to Oman
News Agency by Khalil bin Abdullah al
Khonji, OCCI Chairman. He said that ive
works have been presented to the Supervisory
Committee for Sectoral Committees
to be presented during Ramadhan
nights for the private sector establishments
and the community.
Airport is attributed to the increase in
the number of lights of some airlines
operating into Muscat International
Airport, such as Oman air, Ethiopian
Airlines and Bangladesh United Airlines.
In terms of air cargo trafic at Muscat
International Airport, Aviation
Statistics indicate an increase in the
total unloaded and loaded freight by
1 per cent with total shipment 49,190
tonnes at the end of May 2013 compared
to 48,858 tonnes in the same
period in 2012.
Salalah Airport has an increase by
12 per cent in the total number of arriving
and departing passengers to
270,438 passengers at the end of May
2013 compared to 241,795 passengers
during the same period last year.
As for the movement of Air Cargo
at Salalah Airport, freight trafic has
recorded a remarkable increase in
the total unloaded and loaded freight.
— ONA
Tough measures against price increase
From page 1
“The price rise of food and other essentials
has dented the wallets of each
individual residing in Oman in a big
way. Even the prices of local produce
of vegetables, which has no connection
with exchange rate, too has have
gone up because of the greed of the retailers.
The prices of chicken, mutton,
pulses, spices, sugar, rice, wheat, fruits,
powder milk and carbonated drinks,
all rose in the past couple of years,” laments
Hameed al Wahaibi, a pensioner
in Ruwi.
A few greedy whole sellers have
monopolised the retail market and
have taken the advantage of the situ-
This aims at closely familiarising with
major problems of each sector, their future
challenges and the recommendations
proposed for the ministries concerned.
He added that those sectors represent
electricity and water, oil and gas,
construction, sales, transport and communications.
He pointed out that OCCI is keen to
develop the economic sectors through
familiarising with the obstacles and
major solutions that would develop
them, in addition to paying attention to
Omanisation and employment, as well
as discussing SMEs development in each
of the ive sectors. — ONA
ation and increased the prices at their
own whims, he says.
“There is an immediate need of a
strict price control act to check the
prices”, he urges.
At the same time hypermarket managements
are making all-out efforts to
ensure enough stock and supply of essentials
at stable prices.
“We have special dedicated teams
that handle logistics and stocks. We
always plan ahead to make sure that
not only do we have the best selection
of products but also offer them at the
most competitive prices. During special
months like Ramadhan, we ensure
that supply exceeds demand to keep
New cargo
lights
launched
MUSCAT — Freight carrier
Cargolux Airlines International
SA yesterday
launched cargo lights via
Muscat International Airport
with one light per
week. The move is part
of Oman Airport Management
Company’s (OAMC)
efforts to allure internationally
renowned cargo
companies to operate in
Oman.
prices in check,” said Ananth AV, Regional
Firector, LuLu Hypermarket.
According to him, the brisk low of
goods in the months before Ramadhan
is absolutely normal. “We on our part
have kept a irm check on the prices
and are monitoring it on a daily basis
ensuring that there are no great spikes
during the season”, he said.
Meanwhile, the inlation rate in
Oman recorded stood at 1.20 per cent
in April. Historically, from 2005 until
2013, the inlation rate averaged 5.24
per cent reaching an all-time high of
14.50 per cent in June of 2008 and a
record low of 1.20 per cent in April of
2013.