The purpose of the current study is to compare the hot corrosion performance of SMO 254 exposed to air oxidation and molten salt with a eutectic mixture of 40 wt% Na2SO4 + 40 wt% K2SO4 + 10 wt% NaCl + 10 wt% KCl at 600 °C, 650 °C and 700 °C under cyclic conditions for 50 h period. Kinetics of corrosion were analyzed by thermogravimetric method. By using SEM/EDS, the hot corroded specimens were investigated for surface scales and cross-sectional elemental analysis by point, line mapping methods. An accelerated rate of corrosion rate was noticed in the specimen exposed to molten salt at 700 °C, and the lowest rate of corrosion rate was observed in the specimen subjected to air oxidation at 600 °C. XRD analysis is done to analyze the corrosion products in the oxide scale. © 2020 IOP Publishing Ltd.