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| Gihan Karunaratne - Country Manager Oman Air SL & Maldives |
Oman Air will start double
daily flight operations from Colombo to Muscat from 28 October 2015
onwards. The national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman will now offer a total
of 14 flights per week and two flights per day between the two countries.
Oman Air’s daily
morning flight will depart from Colombo at 8.45 a.m. and the evening flight
will leave at 17.45 p.m., with the exception of the Wednesday evening flight,
which will depart at 20.30 p.m.
Commenting on Oman
Air’s increased flight frequency, Mahfood
Ali Saleem Al Harthy - Chief Officer Sales, Oman Air stated, “We are
delighted to increase flights between Colombo and Muscat.
Increasing our flight
frequency to Muscat is part of our long-term plan to drive strategic growth and
expansion in the region. We have seen an immense demand for flights between both
destinations and by adding an additional four flights to our weekly schedule,
we hope to strengthen the Colombo-Muscat route and solidify its position as a
significant route in our global network.”  |
| OmanAir_Logo |
In 2009, Oman Air
commenced its operations in Sri Lanka and by 2011, the airline was offering
five flights per week to Muscat in Oman. In 2012, the airline commenced daily flights
and increased its frequency to 10 flights per week. In 2014, the load factor was
at 76% and Oman Air has maintained its passenger load factor and currently
operates flights at an average of 74%.
Commenting on Oman
Air’s continued growth, Gihan
Karunaratne – Country Manager, Sri Lanka & Maldives, Oman Air stated,
“Oman Air has achieved significant growth in a relatively short period of time and
we hope that by operating two daily
flights to Muscat, we’ll be able to meet the growing demand for flights to Oman,
the Middle East and Europe. With this increased flight frequency, Oman Air will
also contribute towards the growth of the local tourism industry by bringing
more people from around the world to Sri Lanka.”
Oman Air recently
introduced its Boeing 787 Dreamliner to its fleet. The all-new commercial
aircraft offers passengers the ultimate big-jet experience and increased speeds
of travel. The new aircraft is renowned for its superior efficiency and will
open up access to new direct routes, whilst offerings passengers exceptional
comfort. As part of its global expansion, Oman Air also recently launched three
strategic new routes in the Asian region and now offers direct flights from
Muscat to Singapore, Goa and Dhaka.
Since Oman Air commenced
operations in Sri Lanka in 2009, the airline has experienced momentous growth and constantly provides its passengers
with added value through promotions and special offers. Oman Air is renowned for offering a
world-class service and has an ongoing commitment to delivering quality,
comfort and a seamless passenger experience. This has resulted in the airline
receiving significant international recognition and high acclaim at the Skytrax
World Airline Awards.
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 eleven destinations in India (Goa,
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. The
airline also flies to the Maldives, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila,
Jakarta, Zanzibar and Dar Es Salaam. Its European destinations are London,
Milan, Munich, Frankfurt, Paris and Zurich.
Oman Air has codeshare agreements with a number of airline
partners. These are: Emirates Airlines for services between Dubai and Muscat;
Qatar Airways for flights to Doha from any of the 45 departure points within
Oman Air’s network; 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 Malaysian Airlines, KLM and Garuda
Airlines.
Currently Oman Air’s fleet consists of six Airbus A330-300s, four
Airbus A330-200s, three Boeing B737-900s, 18 Boeing B737-800s, one Boeing
B737-700, four Embraer E175s and two ATR 42s. Six Boeing 787 Dreamliners are on
order for delivery from later this year. By 2018, Oman Air’s total fleet size
is expected to be around 50 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 honoured 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, wherein 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.
More recently Oman Air was named as the winner of the ’Best Airline
Staff Service in the Middle East’ award at the Skytrax World Airline Awards
2015.
www.omanair.com