Oman Air expands connectivity via Muscat
Oman Air while increasing its flights to Colombo flying in twice daily since October has helped to improve its connectivity beyond Muscat continues to remain vigilant on its safety standards, the carrier said last week.Oman Air Chief Officer Sales Mahfood Ali Saleem Al Harthy told the Business Times on the sidelines of a media briefing held to announce six years of its operations in Sri Lanka, that concerning safety onboard that they would remain vigilant and it would not be compromised.
He noted that with the Middle East being the strongest regions for growth has enabled the airline to expand further.
Currently Oman Air has a fleet of 41 aircraft and has obtained two 787 Dreamliner aircraft for its routes to Germany and Milan. Hayleys being the GSA has increased their flights from 4 to 14 per week since October this year. In 2017 the carrier is expected to purchase another two 787-900 Dreamliner.Sri Lanka has a great potential for tourism and is currently the most attractive destination for the GCC, Mr. Al Harthy said.
He noted that by end October they had reached 12, 756 passengers and were eyeing crossing 15, 000 by the end of the year that would lead to about a 24 per cent growth compared to 2014.Hayleys Leisure and Aviation Head Johanne Wijesinghe said that the double daily flights had established greater connectivity beyond Muscat.He pointed out that with SriLankan Airlines looking at retrenching its flights overseas Oman Air would be increasing on its destinations and frequencies.As a leisure company we need more seats, Mr. Wijesinghe said adding that the Oman Air caters to a combination of expatriate and leisure travelers with 24 per cent going out of Colombo being Sri Lankans and the rest comprise travellers from other destinations