Tag Archives: Oman Air

Oman Air received delivery of its latest Boeing B787-9 aircraft, the first of three scheduled for this year. Part of an existing order, which includes eight more aircraft by 2027, the newest marks the tenth Dreamliner in the airline’s fleet. As one of the world’s most modern and advanced passenger aircraft, the B787-9 is known for its innovative design and exceptional fuel efficiency, while its wide cabins and large windows offer unparalleled on-board comfort for guests. The aircraft touched down in Muscat on Friday afternoon, arriving from the Boeing facility in Seattle. “We’re excited to welcome our new Boeing B787-9 to our aircraft line-up, which aligns with our strategy to fly a modern and common Oman Air fleet. It allows us to maintain efficiency in operations, optimise maintenance costs and ensure a seamless and consistent experience for our guests,” said Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer. “Our latest addition to the fleet is also consistent with our focus on transforming our airline towards financial sustainability, while upholding our reputation as a world-class carrier and supporting Oman’s ambitions to increase tourism and connectivity in the years to come.” The newest aircraft features a two-class configuration with 30 Business Class seats and 258 Economy Class seats and will serve across the airline’s network of destinations. Oman Air’s spacious, elegant cabin design, and exceptional service and hospitality, has garnered it a string of international awards, including most recently Best Seat Comfort in the Middle East at the APEX 2024 Awards and Best Airline Staff Middle East at the Skytrax 2024 Awards.

To cater to shifting demand and in line with global consumer trends, Oman Air has announced its new Business Studio. The new cabin, which will replace the airline’s First Class product, will retain its spacious cabin layout, classic lie-flat seats, and Wi-Fi connectivity, but with more affordable fares and a redefined service approach that is tailored to the needs of modern travellers. Featuring predominantly on its London and Bangkok services, the new higher-tier Business experience offers all the features of premium flying along with Oman Air’s award-winning service and hospitality, giving guests the room to work, connect and rest like never before, whether traveling for business or premium leisure. “Inspired by valuable guest feedback and to adapt and evolve in line with global market trends, we have strategically refined our premium offering to deliver greater value and appeal. The traditional First Class experience has seen diminished demand, and after careful analysis and benchmarking against industry standards, we decided to retire the product. This decision allows us to focus on delivering an exceptional Business Class experience that better meets modern traveller expectations and is more closely aligned with the demographics targeted by the national tourism objectives, such as such as wellness, adventure and MICE. Moreover, we’re offering it all at a more competitive price point,” said Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air. Oman Air’s new Business Studio offers the best Business Class available anywhere in the region with one of the world’s most generous pitches at 82”, privacy walls for every seat, 23-inch personal screen, free Wi-Fi connectivity, and à la carte dining to stay nourished on-the-go. Guests will be able to book Business Studio from 9 September 2024 at …

As part of its long-standing commitment to promote Khareef Dhofar and support national interests, Oman Air has implemented several strategic measures to boost connectivity to Salalah. Deploying maximum capacity with as many as 11 flights per day during peak times, the airline has also upgraded a number of flights to wide-body aircraft, leading to an addition of nearly 4,500 seats over the season. In July alone, Oman Air flew almost 50,000 guests into the city, with over 70% using fixed national fare tickets. “Salalah, especially during khareef season, is one of Oman’s most treasured touristic assets. As one of our key sectors, we are committed to supporting and promoting it as a destination in line with the national objectives. This khareef, we’ve deployed maximum capacity to meet demand and offer more frequencies than any other airline,” said Mike Rutter, Oman Air’s Chief Commercial Officer. “Furthermore, to support Omani citizens and ensure that travel between Muscat and Salalah remains both affordable and accessible, we are providing consistent and transparent pricing with our year-round fixed fares, enabling more people to reconnect with loved ones or explore the beauty of the country without the burden of fluctuating fares.” Priced at OMR 54 return during the khareef season and OMR 64 for the rest of the year, the fixed national fare is offered exclusively through the airline’s website and mobile app. While there is no limit on the allocation of Omani national fares, seats are selling fast and guests are encouraged to book in advance to avoid disappointment. The airline also offers affordable fares for non-Omanis.

Reinforcing its commitment to enhancing the travel experience, Oman Air has resumed three seasonal routes for winter; Zurich (starting 5 October), Malé (starting 27 October) and Moscow (starting 29 October). With fares starting from just OMR 88 one-way, it’s the perfect time for travelers to start planning their winter getaway. With direct flights from Muscat to over 40 destinations across Europe, the Far East, Indian Subcontinent, Africa and Middle East, and more frequencies than any other airline, guests can enjoy unmatched choice and convenience. Oman Air is also looking into increasing frequencies on its most popular routes, which will be announced soon. Gearing up for the peak winter season, the airline offers an exciting range of travel experiences for the whole family, from the sun-soaked shores of the Maldives to the snow-capped slopes of Switzerland and the cultural and historical riches of Russia, as well as many more. Whether traveling for business or leisure, guests can take advantage of affordable fares, seamless connectivity and award-winning service.

Oman Air has unveiled a significant enhancement to its distribution capabilities, ushering in a new era of convenience and choice partnering with Accelya. The airline has introduced cutting-edge functionality that will enable its trade partners to seamlessly manage their customers’ travel needs. Part of the airline’s ambitious retail transformation programme, it leverages the latest IATA New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology, representing a substantial advancement from the previous booking tools available to travel agents. “NDC stands as a pivotal tool, empowering us with enhanced flexibility and control over our distribution channels. Oman Air’s NDC journey has yielded significant growth in recent years and our partnership with Accelya marks an important milestone in this journey,” commented Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air. “Not only does the new upgrade support us to streamline our customer experience and enable us to scale up and provide more robust services, it also represents a significant reduction in our distribution costs, paving the way for more efficient operations and revenue diversification.” Sam Gilliland, Chief Executive Officer at Accelya, added “We are delighted that Oman Air has chosen Accelya to take control of their retailing future and help them on the journey to Offer & Order transformation. More and more airlines, covering a range of scale and operating models, are choosing Accelya’s FLX Platform due to our track record of delivering fast, impactful results. Our partnership with Oman Air is an example of how Accelya is leading the market in modern retail solutions and bringing the benefits of our technology to customers across the travel industry.” In addition to enhancing its distribution capabilities, Oman Air is bolstering its loyalty system, also powered by Accelya, with enriched …

Oman Air and SalamAir leadership met recently to mark the launch of the airlines’ latest codeshare partnership, which offers passengers an expanded range of travel options within the Sultanate of Oman and beyond. During the meeting, the airlines discussed their future prospects as national carriers and their common commitment to supporting the country’s tourism goals as part of Oman’s 2040 Vison. Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, said, “We are excited about this expanded codeshare partnership between Oman Air and SalamAir and the strengthening of our collaboration. This latest development enables us to jointly offer even more choice and schedule options, which both benefits our customers and serves the broader tourism ambitions of the country.” “We are thrilled to further strengthen our partnership with Oman Air,” said Adrian Hamilton-Manns, Chief Executive Officer of SalamAir. “This extended codeshare agreement reflects our shared commitment to providing passengers with unparalleled travel options and superior service. Together, we eagerly anticipate aligning ourselves with the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technology’s sentiments and the overarching vision of Oman 2040; thus, reinforcing our commitment to driving excellence in the aviation sector and promoting Oman as a premier travel destination.” During the first phase, effective 4 July 2024, passengers can book their travel on a selection of SalamAir’s routes connecting to Oman Air’s network, with more destinations to be added post successful implementation.

Oman Air cancels operations to Islamabad, Lahore, Colombo and Chittagong. Three destinations will be operated on a seasonal basis: Trabzon during the summer season, and Zurich and Malé during winter. New route of Sialkot will be added on. The airline will also be reducing frequencies to certain markets while increasing capacity to two current destinations (Lucknow and Thiruvananthapuram). In addition, three destinations will be operated on a seasonal basis: Trabzon during the summer season, and Zurich and Malé during winter. As part of its ongoing transformation, which aims to improve the company’s overall financial performance and fortify its position in an increasingly competitive market, Oman Air has announced several strategic changes to its network. Oman Air has also introduced measures to optimize its schedule, starting this summer. To better cater to the Omani market and serve key flows in and out of Oman, flight times have been revised for several of its destinations, with emphasis on more favourable slots to offer greater convenience for direct passengers and maximise connection windows. Meanwhile, the airline is continuously evaluating its strategy to adapt to changing market dynamics and identify additional opportunities. Maintaining alignment with government stakeholders including the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman Air remains committed to the economic and social objectives of Oman’s 2040 Vision.

As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, Oman Air has replaced the plastic used to wrap blankets and mattresses in its premium cabins with an eco-friendlier paper-based alternative. All duvets and mattresses across the airline’s fleet will now be presented to the guests with slim, branded paper bands, resulting in the reduction of up to 21.6 ton of plastic per year. The initiative is the latest step for Oman Air as it continues to work towards phasing out the use of single-use plastics on board. Captain Nasser bin Ahmed Salmi, Acting Chief Executive Officer at Oman Air, said: “In a concerted effort guided by our in-house experts and bolstered by collaborations with partners and vendors, we have successfully achieved another milestone in our sustainability efforts. This pivotal step aligns seamlessly with our corporate strategy to reduce waste and choose more environmentally friendly products, reflecting our commitment to national sustainability goals.” Oman Air has been making steadfast strides in reducing its on-board plastic consumption over the last few years, including removing the plastic sleeves used to load cutlery and reducing plastic water bottles and cuplets by up to 50% on certain routes. This year, it has also replaced 80% of its in-flight service carts with lightweight alternatives, providing a considerable boost to fuel efficiency. Meanwhile, Oman Air’s continual efforts to minimise its environmental impact is demonstrated through a range of initiatives that underscore its dedication to promoting sustainable aviation practices.

Oman Air and SalamAir concluded a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance various aspects of cooperation, develop and implement a joint commercial strategy in the field of air transport. The MoU provides for cooperation between the two airlines’ networks to enhance operational efficiency and improve passenger service, besides consolidating ties in the areas of destination planning, flight schedules, inventory management, air fleet management, revenue and sales management. The MoU was signed by Captain Nasser Al Salmi, Acting CEO of Oman Air, and Captain Mohammed Ahmed, CEO of SalamAir. Eng. Said Hamoud Al Ma’awali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oman Air, affirmed that the MoU will secure the complementary role of the two companies in making Muscat Airport more attractive through the integration of operations aimed at increasing the number of destinations reached by Oman Air and SalamAir. In a statement to reporters, the minister said that the MoU would also bolster passenger traffic at Muscat Airport and boost the market share of Oman Air and SalamAir to and from Oman. The MoU is the first step in Oman Air’s recovery plan announced by the government, he added. For his part, Anwar Mohammed Al Rawas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SalamAir Company, underscored the significance of the MoU, which, he described as a positive move that generates benefits for both parties in the aviation sector, improve passenger services and avoid unfavourable competition and losses. Al Rawas told reporters that the two sides are working to develop cooperation systems through the partnership aimed at addressing and avoiding accumulated losses. He observed that the MoU represents a measure to achieve the goals …

Oman Air  aims to address ongoing losses and the accumulation of debt, and includes four main pillars:  financial sustainability, corporate governance, commercial aspects, and human capital over the next 3-4 years with the new transformation plan. In the interest of financial sustainability and operational continuity, His Excellency Eng. Saeed Al Mawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, and Chairman of Oman Air, announced a comprehensive programme to restructure the airline.  The programme is based on the recommendations of international management consulting firm, Oliver Wyman, who conducted a thorough assessment of the airline’s financial and commercial performance and presented practical measures to achieve sustainable commercial operations. In addition, Oman Air will restructure with the aim of improving its basic operational performance and enabling it to better meet the needs of the market. His Excellency indicated that the procedures for Oman Air’s radical and sustainable transformation require the use of qualified experts. In this regard, changes will be made in the current Board of Directors and Executive Management team during the coming months, ensuring the onboarding of highly qualified experts, whether local or international. On corporate governance, His Excellency said that specialised committees have been formed to reformulate governance concerned with human, financial and commercial resources, affiliated to the Board of Directors. Meanwhile, the airline’s network is being re-evaluated by international experts, and decisions will be taken on whether to continue certain destinations. Integration with Salam Air is also high on the programme’s agenda. His Excellency stressed that the upcoming steps will positively affect the quality and reliability of Oman Air’s services and expressed his thanks to the company’s workforce for their contribution and efforts during the last period.