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The Civil Aviation Authority issued regulations for the protection of passenger rights consisting of 62 articles based on Royal Decree No 65/2006 and the executive regulations of the Civil Aviation Law. According to the Oman Observer, these rules apply to flights departing from Omani airports by national or foreign carriers as well as arrivals operated by Omani carriers where compensation has not been provided under the departure state’s rules. For international flight cancellations notified less than 14 days before departure, the carrier must explain passenger rights, provide care and support, offer alternative flights and pay compensation determined by flight distance.
Compensation stands at 108 OMR for distances of 1,500 km or less, 173 OMR for journeys between 1,500 and 3,500 km and 260 OMR for those exceeding 3,500 km, with the air distance between departure and final destination airports used for calculation, the CAA regulations state. Passengers hold the right to reject the alternative flight and terminate the carriage contract for a refund of the unused sector including extra fees for seat selection and baggage while preserving compensation entitlement. No compensation applies if notification occurs at least 14 days in advance, in which case the passenger retains rights to an alternative or refund but the carrier is exempt from care obligations.
Delays of more than six hours trigger the same compensation as cancellations while those under six hours entitle passengers to care and support with the carrier liable for any passenger-incurred costs under Montreal Convention provisions, an Oman Observer report on the regulations noted. In the case of a cancelled sector in a connecting flight, the carrier must inform the passenger who can then opt to reschedule or end the contract with applicable compensation. The authority holds carriers liable for damages from flight diversions to alternate airports according to Montreal Convention terms.
A CAA clarification published in April 2026 established that no compensation is due for delays or cancellations caused by force majeure such as wars, natural disasters, adverse weather, political unrest, strikes or airport closures. Airlines remain required to provide rebooking options or refunds in these situations, the authority’s statement indicated. The clarification was issued under the Passenger Rights Protection Regulation to define when extraordinary circumstances beyond the carrier’s control remove the compensation obligation.
The regulations emerged following discussions and consultations by the CAA with government agencies, the private sector and relevant organisations. AirHelp analysis of the Oman framework aligns closely with the distance-based compensation bands for international flights while adding that the right to care includes refreshments after two hours, meals after three hours and hotel accommodation with transport after six hours. For domestic flights, the rules set compensation at 100 percent of the ticket value when cancellation notice falls below 24 hours without an acceptable alternative within four hours.
If a passenger is already in paid accommodation when a delay occurs, the air carrier bears the cost of any extension until the alternative departure time, according to the published regulations. The CAA requires carriers to publish information on these passenger rights on their websites. Industry reviews indicate the framework draws on elements of the Montreal Convention for liability in specific disruption categories.
