Oman Air, Strong at Its Own Game – Airways

Dallas — Muscat-based Oman Airways (Wyoming), among other Middle Eastern airlines, has in recent years committed to streamlining its fleet, improving punctuality, increasing cargo and entering into new partnerships and alliances. The national carrier is really clear.

Oman Air Chief Executive Officer Abdulaziz Al Raishi said: Airlines About the stance of airlines today.

Singapore: Joining oneworld was certainly a big move, but have you had plans to join the alliance for quite some time? And why oneworld? Given that there is already a oneworld airline in the region, what are the real advantages over other airlines?

AAR: We knew that joining a global alliance would open up a lot of opportunities in terms of connectivity and global expansion, which in turn would add considerable momentum to Oman’s tourism goals. The decision to join oneworld in particular is based on a combination of factors, ultimately weighing on the complementary networks, additional codeshare opportunities and broad operational benefits that oneworld offers. I chose oneworld for a reason.

Furthermore, oneworld’s focus on premium travel is well aligned with our own premium focus. In addition, guests will be able to take advantage of all of his Oneworld benefits. Members of our loyalty program, Sindbad, can earn and redeem miles on all oneworld member airlines, and top members can enjoy lounge access when traveling with other oneworld members. Additional benefits such as access are available.

What’s in store for Oman Air in 2023? How optimistic are you?

The coronavirus recovery is much better than expected. Where forecasts predicted a slow recovery in travel, especially in business, it actually recovered at an alarming rate. As a result, we recently increased our capacity by approximately 60,000 seats per week and added to our fleet by resuming destinations such as the Maldives, Trabzon and Moscow.

Cargo is a big growth area and we are planning a new cargo vessel and several market launches later this year. There’s also a lot of work going on in the digital space, especially since joining IATA recently as co-founder of the Airline Modern Retailing Programme. We are clearly working towards a Oneworld membership next year, which opens up a lot of opportunities for us. Therefore, we are cautiously optimistic.

Is it often difficult for you as an airline when your neighbors Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways are so strong? How difficult is it to gain share in the international transfer market?

This is a frequently asked question. But the truth is, we don’t see ourselves as direct competitors. We are appropriately sized for our target market and our growth is measured to meet steady travel demand. Moreover, the experience we provide is unmatched. Our unique products featuring Omani hospitality definitely make our loyal customers choose us again and again. When it comes to transfers, Oman offers something like no other.

Stopovers in and around Muscat are very popular. Beautiful pristine coastlines, world-class diving, vast mountains, historic forts and fairy-tale sand dunes are within a few hours’ drive of the capital. And then there’s the lush Dhofar Kalief (Monsoon), which you won’t find anywhere else in the Middle East. Who wouldn’t want to experience that?

Fleet Focus: Will the Boeing 737 MAX join more airlines? How long will you keep the A330 in service? What will Oman Air’s fleet look like by 2025?

According to existing purchase agreements, the company already has 13 MAXs, with five more to be delivered by the end of 2024. The A330 aircraft was scheduled to be phased out gradually, but due to the recovery in demand, we are considering reorganizing some of the aircraft and plan to operate it for a while. We currently have a fleet of 52 ships, and we are evaluating it from a long-term perspective.

Are there any plans to introduce dedicated cargo planes soon? What type? And what freight markets and routes are you looking at?

The air cargo industry has experienced a significant surge post-pandemic and we are ready to capitalize on this. We are already making impressive profits and the new cargo vessel, which is expected to enter service by the fourth quarter of this year, is the logical next step in our growth strategy.

We can share that the cargo capacity is B737-800BCF with 21,000 kg. No new routes have been announced at this time, but we are exploring opportunities in the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and Africa.

What are the top three challenges you face as an airline today?

The first is market unpredictability. COVID-19 has completely disrupted consumer patterns and behaviors, but there is still no reliable return to normalcy. This makes it difficult to forecast our business and revenue streams and make longer-term decisions.we have to be more flexible and creative

Another major challenge when it comes to pricing and introducing new routes to meet changing demand patterns is fluctuating economic conditions. Political instability, currency instability and resource availability affect all industries, especially fuel costs and travel demand, which are clearly our lifebloods. Addressing these issues and continuing to operate efficiently and remain profitable requires a very proactive and agile approach.

Finally, I think there is pressure to adopt sustainable business practices. Demand is growing from both consumer and regulatory perspectives, but alternative fuels and environmentally friendly technologies are expensive and not yet readily available. That’s what we as an industry have to work on. But it’s coming, and there are plenty of opportunities for innovation and growth that come with it.

For those who want a peek at what it’s like to fly with Oman Air, Airways will also fly the airline’s flagship Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which flies from Milan (MXP) to Muscat (MCT). bottom.

Featured Image: Oman Air A4O-SG Boeing 787-9 KPAE.Photo: Daniel Golan/Airways