One more new airline has joined the network of the Hamad International Airport (HIA) as Oman's SalamAir's inaugural flight from Muscat arrived.

The first budget airline from Oman, SalamAir will operate five times a week between Muscat and Doha, with connections to Salalah, Suhar, Dubai, Medina, Jeddah, and Sialkot and Karachi in Pakistan. Outside Oman, Qatar is the fourth country to be served by the new airline.

Addressing journalists on the plane's arrival in Doha, SalamAir chairman Khalid al-Yahmedi said their company is so happy that they could operate between Muscat and Doha in the very second year of its operations. The new airline was launched last year.

The new route, hoped Yahmadi, would offer travellers convenient timing, affordable travel alternatives and connectivity to a wider network of destinations. The SalamAir chairman said in the last few months there has been a significant rise in the number of passengers travelling between Muscat and Doha and vice versa. He hoped the travel between the two destinations would grow further with the arrival of a budget airline.

Al-Yahmedi said SalamAir would start operating more flights and routes in the first half of next year as at least four more A320 aircraft would be joining its fleet.

Speaking earlier, HIA vice president (operations) Ioannis Metsovitis expressed happiness at another new airline coming to HIA. "We are pleased to welcome SalamAir to Hamad International Airport's network of airlines and to extend its best-in-class services and facilities to more passengers. HIA connects Doha to more than 150 destinations which gives passengers the choice when they plan their journey and a seamless and unforgettable travel experience at HIA".

The HIA official said the airport is growing at a faster pace and is expected to to receive at least 50mn passengers annually in coming years in line with the goals and objectives enshrined in the Qatar National Vision 2030. Rahan Ali, a representative of SalamAir's GSA in Qatar, also spoke.