Oman Air, a Boeing and ATR operator, is planning to add the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to its fleet when it expands operations, said its top official.

"We are looking at ordering Boeing 787s as part of our future expansion, to start with at least three 787s," Abdul Rahman Al Busaidy, Oman Air's chief executive officer, told Gulf News recently.

He, however, could not give a time frame.

Oman Air recently received its latest Boeing 737-800 New Generation (NG) aircraft. It is launching services to Delhi and Hyderabad in India in June, and increasing flights to Mumbai to two a day from Muscat. It is also increasing flights to Cairo to daily from three a week.

It operates narrow-bodied Boeing 737s and British ATRs. The airline, to a certain extent, is operating a feeder service for Gulf Air as well - the other airline in which the Oman Government has a stake.

"For the time being, we will remain a Boeing operator, but eventually have a mixed fleet in the long run," he said.

"We have a good understanding with Gulf Air and have code-sharing on most of Gulf Air's routes. This arrangement is working out fine for both of us and we look forward to continuing this alliance."

The Oman Government holds stakes in both Gulf Air and Oman Air.

Gulf Air, which has been making a loss, will be profitable by the end of this year, as part of its new turnaround business plan.

The airline, despite being a small operation, remained profitable for nine of its 12 years in operation.

"Despite an increase in fuel prices, we made a profit last year. We are now consolidating our operations in the Gulf by adding more flights on profitable and busy routes by engaging high-volume, high-frequency aircraft. The B737NGs fit our requirements very well," he added.

Oman Air operates 64 flights a week to the UAE, including 55 to Dubai. It will introduce e-ticketing in June, something new in Oman.

Oman Air is a public company in which the government holds 33 per cent. It recently got 10 million riyals in cash from the government.

©Gulf News