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Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and Oman Air today (19 June) joined forces to create 400 jobs for young Omanis at the new Muscat International Airport.
The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing PDO to support the training of the jobseekers in a variety of cabin and ground staff positions, along with the upskilling of a further 100 existing Oman Air customer service staff.
The successful completion of the internationally accredited vocational courses will lead to guaranteed full-time positions with the National Carrier in customer relations and ramp services.
The agreement, which was signed by PDO Managing Director Raoul Restucci and Oman Air Chief Executive Officer Paul Gregorowitsch, was forged as part of the drive to support His Majesty's call for sustainable jobs.
Mr Restucci said: "As part of our National Objectives programme to create job and training opportunities for Omanis, PDO is going beyond our natural boundaries of the oil and gas sector to support economic diversification and development.
"Working with our trusted partners at Oman Air, we will ensure that hundreds of young jobseekers are ready to play key roles in the new Muscat International Airport which will be a showpiece for the country and the region.
"PDO is proud to support His Majesty's call to create sustainable jobs and will be working even harder in the future, both on our own and in collaboration with other organisations, to reach that goal.
"Despite the oil price environment, we continue to ramp up our In-Country Value drive and ensure Omanis are equipped with the skills and talents to forge rewarding careers, either in our industry or other sectors of the economy."
Mr Gregorowitsch said: "Oman Air's partnership with PDO demonstrates the airline's continuing commitment to the Sultanate's policy of Omanisation. The overwhelming response to the programme and the progress made in training have given us very positive feedback. We are pleased and proud to be working together to deliver training that will enable Omani citizens to pursue meaningful and rewarding careers.
"Oman Air takes seriously the responsibility to employ as many Omani citizens as possible and provide them with rewarding careers and career development opportunities. Raising the skills and experience bases of the Omani workforce, have always been the focal point of our business. Oman Air will increase the percentage of Omani citizens it employs to 63 per cent in 2016, in line with its commitment to the Sultanate's policy of Omanisation.
"Not only will this benefit Oman Air and the broader aviation sector in Oman, but it will also help the trainees make a greater long-term contribution to the Sultanate and its economic growth. We look forward to welcoming the first 120 candidates to their ramp services training very soon."
The courses will last for up to 12 months and include a mixture of technical and on-the-job training. Those who pass customer service and ramp service training will gain an International Air Transport Association (IATA) diplomas and National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) certification.
Oman Air and PDO have enjoyed a long and fruitful association and the airline is the official contractor for PDO's internal flights
Corporate Communications & Media
Oman Air
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 new logo -- a gold and silver swirl -- represents the contemporary rendition of frankincense smoke. Much sought after by the world since ancient days, Omani frankincense is one of the most powerful and evocative expressions of the nation's vibrant history, culture, heritage and people. Gold represents excellence and achievement and embodies the timeless traditions and the bountiful natural wealth of Oman. Silver represents the enduring and vibrant heritage of Oman, which has been reflected in intricate and exquisite silver artifacts such as the khanjar, jewellery and more. The turquoise blue: "Symbolic of the infinite blue of the sky and sea, turquoise blue denotes the legendary hospitality and welcoming nature of Oman to travelers since ancient days."
The airline currently operates direct international flights from Muscat to Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Madina, Tehran, Mashhad and Kuwait, in the Gulf region, as well as Cairo, Beirut and Amman within the wider Middle East/Africa region.
In addition, Oman Air flies to eleven destinations in India (Goa, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Delhi, Lucknow, Bangalore, Kozhikode and Jaipur); Chittagong and Dhaka in Bangladesh; Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore in Pakistan; Kathmandu in Nepal; and Colombo in Sri Lanka. The airline also flies to Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Jakarta, Zanzibar and Dar Es Salaam. Its European destinations are London, Milan, Munich, Frankfurt, Paris and Zurich.
Oman Air's domestic destinations are Salalah, Khasab, Duqum and Sohar.
Oman Air has codeshare agreements with a number of airline partners. These are: Emirates Airlines for services between Dubai and Muscat; Ethiopian Airlines for flights between Muscat and Addis Ababa; 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; Turkish Airlines for flights between Muscat and Istanbul; Sri Lankan Airlines, enabling Oman Air's customers to book with Sri Lankan Airlines from Muscat to Singapore, Male, and China via Colombo, and Sri Lankan Airlines' customers to book onto Oman Air's flights from Colombo to Zurich via the Omani Capital of Muscat; Oman Air has also codeshare agreement with KLM and Garuda Airlines. Recently Oman Air has signed a codeshare agreement with Thai Airways as well offering travellers better connectivity and increased choice.
Currently Oman Air's fleet consists of four Boeing 787 Dreamliners, six Airbus 330-300s, four Airbus 330-200s, five Boeing 737-900s, 19 Boeing 737-800, one Boeing 737-700 and four Embraer 175s. Four more Dreamliners will join the fleet in the following years. By 2018, Oman Air's total fleet size is expected to be around 57 aircraft, rising to 70 aircraft by 2020.
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 outstanding 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. State of the art in-flight entertainment systems feature 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. In addition, premium check-in facilities and a First Class lounge-to-aircraft limousine service are offered to passengers at Muscat.
Oman Air's commitment to quality, comfort and a seamless passenger experience has resulted in acclaim at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, including: Best Business Class Seat in the World (2011, 2012); Service Excellence, Middle East (2011); and Best Staff Service, Middle East (2014). The World Travel Awards have also honored Oman Air with World's Leading Airline - Economy Class 2014, Best Business Class Airline - Middle East 2014, and Best Economy Class Airline - Middle East 2013 and 2014. Further awards include Best Luxury Airline, Middle East (Business Destinations Awards 2011, 2012, 2013); Best In-flight Connectivity & Communications award at 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, as has received the Readers' Choice Award at the Saveur Culinary Travel Awards, in recognition of the extraordinarily high standards of inflight cuisine. In addition, the airline was ranked highly in the American Express Executive Travel magazine's list of the world's best airlines, and in Business Insider's World's Best Airlines 2014.
Oman Air scooped four awards at the Oman Airports Management Company Second Annual Awards ceremony, on 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.
Oman Air won two awards at the World Travel Awards Middle East 2015, where the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman came top in the 'Middle East's Leading Airline - Business Class' and 'Middle East's Leading Airline - Economy Class' categories. Oman Air was also named as the winner of the 'Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East' award at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2015.
At the WorldTravel Awards 2015, the National Carrier was named the 'World's Leading Airline Economy Class 2015' as well as airline's lounge at Muscat International Airport was named 'World's Leading Airport Lounge - Business Class 2015'.
Oman Air also won the Best International Airline Award 2015 at the North India Travel Awards held in India. Oman Air's inflight magazine, Wings of Oman received 'Best In-flight Magazine' award at the prestigious World Marketing Congress's Global Marketing Excellence awards (2015) held in Mumbai, India. More recently Oman Air was awarded the Best International Airline 2016 at the South India Travel Awards held in Hyderabad, in India
Recently, Oman Air also won four prestigious awards at the first Oman Tech Awards, held in Muscat on 2nd May 2016. The national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman won the E-Commerce award in the Websites category, the Travel and Tourism award in the Apps category, and the Government award in the Social Media category, in recognition of Oman Air's Facebook page. The airline also won a Special Award for Best Social Media Campaign of the Year, following the success of its National Day campaign in November 2015.
© Press Release 2016
