Already seen as a fast rising star of the Middle Eastern aviation sector, Oman Air chairman, His Excellency Darwish Bin Ismail Al Balushi, recently revealed the carrier saw significant gains in 2013.

Oman Air increased its capacity to 14.9 billion available seat kilometres in 2013, enabling the airline to carry, with a total of 4,994,729, nearly 13 per cent more passengers than in 2012.

In parallel, Oman Air’s cargo operation handled 119,785 tonnes of cargo in 2013, an increase of 15 per cent on 2012.

These results, together with those of all the airline’s other areas of operations, contributed to an increase in Oman Air’s total revenues in 2013 of ten per cent, compared to 2012, to a total of RO381,709,000.

His Excellency Darwish Bin Ismail Al Balushi commented: “Over the course of 2013 we have enhanced our focus on driving up quality standards, delivering greater efficiencies, increasing the range of choices we offer, and preparing the way for our next stage of major expansion.

“Throughout these processes, we have adhered to two key principles which underpin every area of our work: to ensure that every customer enjoys the best possible passenger experience, and to continue our determined progress towards profitability. 

“This year’s results show what holding those principles close can achieve.”

Outlining Oman Air’s achievements over the course of 2013, His Excellency said that the new Embraer E175 and Boeing B737 aircraft which were added to Oman Air’s fleet in 2012 had increased flexibility and capacity, enabling the carrier to increase frequencies to a range of destinations in India and Pakistan, as well as between Muscat and Salalah.

The aircraft also allowed the launch new services between Salalah and Jeddah, and between Muscat and Madinah.

The chairman also noted that the expansion of international services from Salalah, together with more frequencies between Oman’s second city and its capital, had been warmly welcomed by customers and had once again confirmed Salalah as a vital element within Oman Air’s network.

At present, Oman Air is engaged in a range of diverse activities, including scheduled airline services, air charter services, ground handling, cargo handling, aircraft catering services, hospitality and duty free business.

Since Oman Air’s foundation 20 years ago, these activities have grown significantly and, as such, may be better managed as independent businesses with dedicated management focus.

It is therefore intended that these businesses should be spun off into separate legal entities which will enhance efficiencies and effectiveness.

The plan will be implemented in a gradual and sustainable manner, and will begin with the ground handling and cargo handling businesses.

His Excellency further emphasised that even as separate entities, these businesses will continue to operate within a group, so that they could take advantage of the synergies among themselves and with the core Oman Air business.

Final decisions and related timescales will be announced following consultations with the government of Oman.

More Information

Oman Air took the title of Middle East’s Leading Airline – Business Class at the 2014 World Travel Awards.

For more information on the carrier head over to the official Oman Air.