Oman Air SAOC (Arabic: الطيران العماني) is the national airline of Oman. Based in Muscat, Oman it operates scheduled domestic and international passenger services, as well as providing local air taxi and charter flights. Its main base is Muscat International Airport, Muscat.
Oman Air is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization.
[edit] History
The airline was established in 1981 and started operations in 1993. It was formed as the result of a merger of the former Gulf Air Light Aircraft division and Oman International Services, as Oman Aviation Services. As of Nov 2009, the Omani government now holds a 98.2 % majority stake in the airline, while the remaining 1.8% is in the hands of other investors.[2]
In March 2007, the Omani government recapitalised the airline, which saw the government increasing its stake in the airline from approximately 33 to 80 %,[3] It was also announced that Oman Air would be re-evaluating its strategic plans, with a possibility of entering the long-haul market[3]. This culminated in the announcement by the government in May 2007 that it would be pulling out of Gulf Air, and would instead concentrate on developing Oman Air.[4]
Oman Air commenced its first long haul services on November 26, 2007 by launching Bangkok and London.[5][6] With the arrival of its new Airbus A330-200/300 aircraft later this year and the expansion of its existing fleet, the airline is planning to start flying to Frankfurt, Munich and Paris in Europe and Colombo and Malé in South Asia.[7]
[edit] Sindbad
Sindbad is the airline's frequent flyer program, launched in 2007. Sindbad has partnership agreement with Etihad Airways and Gulf Airways frequent flyer programs.
[edit] Destinations
As of May 2009 Oman Air operates 343 flights every week across its network of 57 destinations in 29 countries from its primary hub in Muscat.
[edit] Codeshare agreements
Oman Air has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:[8]
As of November 2009, the Oman Air fleet consists of 27 aircraft:[9]
On April 2, 2007, Oman Air announced it had placed a firm order with Airbus for five Airbus A330 aircraft for delivery in 2009. At the Dubai Air Show 2007, Oman Air finalised the order, which involved three A330-300's and two A330-200's. Deliveries started during the third quarter of 2009.
In February 2009, Oman Air announced intentions to lease two A330-200 from Jet Airways. Its own Airbus A330-200s will start flying from Muscat International Airport by the end of August,2009.[12] It will only have Business and economy class.[12]
During the 2009 Dubai Air Show, Oman Air Air finalised an order for 5 Embraer 175 aircraft plus 5 options, with deliveries starting in 2011. Whilst 4 will operate on Oman Air's domestic network, the fifth will be used by the Royal Omani Police. [13]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Members of the International Air Transport Association | | | | | | Asia-Pacific regional office | | | | | | | China and North Asia regional office | | | | | | | | | | Latin America and the Caribbean regional office | | | | | | | Middle East and North Africa regional office | | | | | | | North America regional office | | | | | | | Russia and the CIS regional office | | | | | |
