Oman Air (Arabic: ??????? ????????) is the national airline of Oman. Based on the grounds of Muscat International Airport in Seeb, Muscat, it operates scheduled domestic and international passenger services, as well as regional air taxi and charter flights. Its main base is Muscat International Airport. Oman Air is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization. As of 1 March 2010, Oman Air has become the first airline in the world to offer both mobile phone and Wi-Fi Internet services on selected routes.
In 2011, Oman Air won the Gold award for the "Airline of the Year" at France's Laurier d'Or du Voyage d'Affaires.
§History
§In the beginning
Oman Air can trace its root back to 1970, when Oman International Services (OIS) was established. The company became a civil aircraft ground handling provider at Beit Al Falaj Airport. In 1972, OIS moved its operations to the new terminal at Seeb International Airport. The company took over Gulf Air's Light Aircraft Division in 1977, before establishing Aircraft Engineering Division in the same year. Rapidly expanding civil aviation industry of Oman led OIS to the building of several facilities - including hangars, workshops and in-flight catering - to cater for the increase in activity.
In 1981, Oman Aviation Services became a joint-stock company. OAS also purchased 13 aircraft from Gulf Air, allowing the company to replace its turboprops Fokker 27-600 with the -500 series. The following year, Oman Aviation Services jointly commenced jet services, along with Gulf Air, to Salalah. From 1983 to 1993, the company purchased new equipment, including the Cessna Citation, and new facilities to help it improve its services.
§New airline: 1993
In 1993, Oman Air was founded. The airline's first flight was in March, when a wet-leased Boeing 737-300 from Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services (AWAS) flew from Muscat to Salalah. In July of the same year, the airline's first international flight was operated to Dubai, also using a Boeing 737-300. Flights to other destinations quickly followed, with Trivandrum services starting in November, Kuwait and Karachi in January 1994, and Colombo in October. In 1995, two Airbus A320s were wet-leased from Region Air of Singapore to replace the 737s. From 1995 to 1997, services were commenced to Mumbai, Dhaka, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Chennai. In October 1998, Oman Air was admitted in the international aviation industry trade group International Air Transport Association (IATA). By the end of the following year, Gwader, Peshawar, Jeddah and Al-Ain were included in the airline's ever-expanding route network, although the former two, along with a host of other destinations, were withdrawn in 2000.
In March 2007, the Omani government recapitalised the airline, which saw the government increasing its stake in the airline from approximately 33 to 80 percent. It was also announced that Oman Air would be re-evaluating its strategic plans, with a possibility of entering the long-haul market. 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. Oman Air commenced its long-haul services on November 26, 2007 by launching flights to Bangkok and London. With the arrival of its new Airbus A330-200/300 aircraft further long haul routes are planned. As of November 2010, the Omani government holds a 99.8% stake in the airline.
§Destinations
As of October 2013, Oman Air operates a network of 42 destinations in 23 countries out of its primary hub at Muscat. The airline services 11 destinations in India.
§
Oman Air has codeshare agreements with the following airlines (as of 19 November 2013):
- Emirates
- Ethiopian Airlines (Star Alliance)
- Qatar Airways (Oneworld)
- Royal Jordanian (Oneworld)
- Turkish Airlines (Star Alliance)
§Fleet
As of February 2015, the Oman Air fleet consists of the following aircraft with an average age of 6.5 years:, during September 2013 the CEO was quoted as saying that Oman Air was studying to move to a 50-strong fleet by 2017.
On 2 April 2007, Oman Air announced it had placed a firm order with Airbus for 5 Airbus A330 aircraft for delivery in 2009. At 2009 Dubai Air Show, Oman Air finalized the order, which involved 3 A330-300's and 2 A330-200's. Deliveries started during the third quarter of 2009. In February 2009, Oman Air announced intentions to lease another 2 A330-200 from Jet Airways. It will only have Business and economy class.
During the 2009 Dubai Air Show, Oman Air Air finalised an order for 5 Embraer 175 aircraft with another 5 options, which the airline will receive from 2011. Whilst 4 of these aircraft will operate on Oman Air's domestic and Middle East network, the fifth will be used by the Royal Oman Police.
§Historic fleet
Oman Air operated the following aircraft previously:
§Frequent flyer program
Sindbad is Oman Air's frequent flyer program, launched in 2007. It is a three tier frequent flyer program managed directly by Oman Air. The three tiers are Sindbad Blue, Sindbad Silver which requires 25,000 Tier miles or flown 20 segments on Oman Air in a calendar year and then will require 20,000 Tier miles or 15 Tier segments in a calendar year to maintain the Sindbad Silver Tier level, Sindbad Gold which requires 50,000 Tier miles or 40 Tier segments in a calendar and will require 30,000 Tier miles or 30 Tier segments in a calendar year to maintain the Sinbad Gold Tier. Sindbad has a partnership agreement with the respective program of Etihad Airways and miles can be earned through a number of Sindbad partners.
§References
§External links
- Official website
- Official blog
Interesting Informations
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