PHOTO
Oman Air has signed a Letter of Intent with Cargolux Airlines International S.A. toenable the freight specialist to use Oman Air's facilities in Muscat, Salalah and Sohar.
The agreement includes the launch, on 15th April, of Cargolux's full freighter services from Luxembourg to India via Oman. The formal signing of the agreement will take place when the first Cargolux flight arrives in Muscat on 16th April.
The agreement signifies Oman Air's latest step in expanding its cargo operations. It follows earlier initiatives by the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, which include the launch of pan-GCC and pan-European trucking services, and a joint cargo service with DHL between Oman and Dubai.
Cargolux intends to increase the number of services it operates to Oman during 2015 to several flights per week, with onward connections to multiple Indian cities, including Chennai, Bombay and Hyderabad. Additional services to cities in India are being considered and connections to China, Europe, Africa and the United States are also planned.
In addition, Oman Air will provide Cargolux with access to the freight capacity of its passenger fleet, which flies to 11 destinations in India and three in Pakistan, as well as to destinations in Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This will give the Luxembourg-based carrier the opportunity to feed consolidated freight to Oman from a number of larger markets.
Announcing the agreement with Cargolux, the Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, Paul Gregorowitsch said:
"Oman Air has extensive and long-term experience of operating flights to numerous destinations across the Indian sub-continent and East Africa. Cargolux is a leader in carrying air freight and offers huge capacity. This agreement therefore represents an important strategic partnership that will give an important boost to the Sultanate of Oman's standing as a major hub for the movement of freight between Europe, Asia and Africa.
"In addition, Oman's natural harbours, positioned at the entrance to the Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf, and its proximity to the sub-continent provide a major advantage over its competitors in the region. Furthermore, under the guidance of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, Oman has invested in the development of state-of-the-art logistics facilities - including ports, freight terminals and airports - not just in Muscat, but also in Salalah, Duqm and Sohar.
"Oman therefore has an excellent logistics chain for Cargolux to leverage and Oman Air is pleased and proud to be working with them to further expand the country's cargo sector.
"We offer a warm Omani welcome to Cargolux and we look forward to working with them on this exciting enterprise."
Corporate Communications & Media
Oman Air
09Mar. 15
-Ends-
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 SriLankan 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 ten 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 TravellerCellars 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,
www.omanair.com
© Press Release 2015
