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Oman Air has scooped four awards at the Oman Airports Management Company Second Annual Awards ceremony, held at the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa in Muscat on Sunday 22nd February 2015.
The national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman was recognized as one of the top five airlines by number of passengers carried at Muscat International Airport. It also received an award as one of the top three airlines at Salalah International Airport, as well as receiving accolades in the Non-Aeronautical and Stakeholder of the Year 2014 categories.
Paul Gregorowitsch, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, received the awards on behalf of the airline and commented:
"Oman Air is pleased and proud to have its leading role at Oman's airports recognized by these four awards. As the Sultanate's national carrier, we are committed to supporting the growth of Oman's airport sector, and to bringing increased numbers of visitors to the country. Our aircraft carried 5.1 million passengers in 2014, all of whom landed at Muscat or Salalah airports. The company's direct and indirect contribution to the Omani economy over the same period was as much as OR 420 million.
"We also provide passenger services at Oman's airports on behalf of a number of other airlines and at Muscat International Airport alone our airport staff handled 8.7 million customers last year.
"As Oman Air's rapid expansion continues, we look forward to continuing our work with OAMC to offer the very best in 21st Century air travel both on the ground and in the air."
Sheikh Samir Al Nabhani, General Manager of Oman Air's Commercial Operations, added that Oman Air has played an essential role in developing the Sultanate's travel industry over the past years. Furthermore, the national carrier has made a major contribution to the growth in the number of passengers flying from and to Oman.
Oman Air launched two new international routes last year, to Manila and Jakarta, taking the number of international destinations offered at Muscat International Airport to 62. Oman Air's services account for 58 per cent of the total traffic handled by the airport.
Oman Air's growth strategy was launched in November 2014 and will see the airline expand its fleet from 30 to over 50 narrowbody and widebody aircraft by 2018. The first of 15 new Boeing 737s and three Airbus A330s touched down at Muscat International airport recently. In addition, six Boeing 787 Dreamliners will be delivered between 2015 and 2017.
Oman Air has also been recognized for its service quality and punctuality at airports around the world. Most recently, the airline topped London Heathrow's punctuality league for November 2014, and, on United Nations International Migration Day, Oman Air was also named as The Best Airline Operating To and From Chittagong, in Bangladesh. And, in the last few weeks, Oman Air has announced its intention to launch new services to Singapore, Goa and Dhaka.
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About Oman Air
Oman Air is the flagship carrier of the Sultanate of Oman and an Official 4 Star Airline (Skytrax 2011). Founded in 1993, the airline has since witnessed massive growth and has played a major role in making Muscat an important traffic hub in the Middle East, supporting the commercial, industrial and tourism sectors.
The airline currently operates direct international flights from Muscat to Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Madina, Tehran and Kuwait, in the Gulf region, as well as Cairo, Beirut and Amman within the wider Middle East region.
In addition, Oman Air flies to ten destinations in India (Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Delhi, Lucknow, Bangalore, Kozhikode and Jaipur), Chittagong in Bangladesh, Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore in Pakistan, Kathmandu in Nepal and Colombo in Sri Lanka. Oman Air also flies to the Maldives, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, Zanzibar and Dar Es Salaam. Its European destinations are London, Milan, Munich, Frankfurt, Paris and Zurich. Manila and Jakarta are the latest destination added to Oman Air's expanding network.
Oman Air also has codeshare partnerships with Emirates Airlines, giving travellers better connectivity and an extended range of services between Dubai and Muscat, as well as with Qatar Airways allowing Oman Air's customers to book flights from any of the 43 departure points within its network to Doha. In addition, Oman Air, has a codeshare partnership with Ethiopian Airlines on the Muscat and Addis Ababa sectors, as well as codeshare agreements with Royal Jordanian, enabling that airline's customers to fly with Oman Air between Muscat and Amman and Oman Air's customers to fly with Royal Jordanian between Amman and Beirut. A partnership with Turkish Airlines allows passengers to book with either airline to fly between Muscat and Istanbul, with the flights being operated by Turkish Airlines. A further codeshare agreement with Sri Lankan Airlines offers Oman Air's customers the opportunity to book seats on Sri Lankan Airline's services from Muscat to Singapore, Male, and China via Colombo. In turn, Sri Lankan Airlines' customers are able to book onto Oman Air's flights from Colombo to Zurich via the Omani Capital of Muscat. Oman Air also has a codeshare partnership with Malaysian Airlines.
By December 2014, Oman Air fleet will consist of nine Airbus A330-200/300s, 20 Boeing 737-700s/800s/900s, four Embraer E175s and two ATR 42s. Six Boeing 787 Dreamliners are on order for delivery from 2015.
Six more Boeing 737-800s and four 737-900ERs will be added to the fleet from 2015. By 2016, Oman Air's total fleet size is expected to be around 50 aircraft.
Oman Air's outstanding aircraft interiors include its First Class Mini Suite, which provides each of the six First Class passengers with direct aisle access and converts to the longest lie-flat seat in the skies. The A330's 20 award-winning Business Class seats each provide direct aisle access, ample storage space and the latest technological amenities. Economy Class seats offer adjustable head and leg rests, together with generous leg and elbow room. A state of the art in-flight entertainment system features individual seatback screens, audio and video on demand and live satellite TV. In addition, Oman Air has pioneered both mobile telephony and Internet connectivity on board its flights and this is available in all three classes.
Superb new First and Business Class lounges have been opened at Muscat International Airport, featuring elegant and tranquil relaxation areas, complimentary spa treatments and à la carte dining. A lounge-to-aircraft limousine service is also offered to First Class passengers at Muscat.
Oman Air's commitment to quality, comfort and a seamless passenger experience has resulted in international acclaim, including: Best Business Class Seat in the World (Skytrax World Airline Awards 2011, 2012); Service Excellence, Middle East (Skytrax World Airline Awards 2011); Best Staff Service, Middle East (Skytrax World Airline Awards 2014); Best Luxury Airline, Middle East (Business Destinations Awards 2011, 2012, 2013); Best In-flight Connectivity & Communications award in The 2011 Passenger Choice Awards; as well as recognition in the TravelPlus Amenity Bag Awards 2010 (three Gold, one Silver), 2011 (two Gold, one bronze), 2012 (one Gold) and 2013 (one Gold); the Business Traveller Cellars in the Sky Awards 2010 (Silver) and 2012 (two Gold). Over the last year, Oman Air has also won two awards at the Arab Tourism Media awards, and three categories of the Oman Web Awards. Oman Air was ranked highly in the American Express Executive Travel magazine's list of the world's best airlines, and also in Business Insider's World's Best Airlines 2014, and its exceptional support for sporting achievement was recognized at the Oman Sports Awards Gala in February 2014. More recently, Oman Air was named Best Business Class Airline - Middle East and Best Economy Class Airline - Middle East at the World Travel Awards 2014,
© Press Release 2015
