ON TOUR: Flying with Oman Air

Last month Malcolm Ginsberg, TNU’s Editor-in-Chief, visited the Kingdom of Oman, hardly a Gulf State, mainly bordering the Indian Ocean, but nevertheless effectively part of the Arabian Peninsula.  It is a great holiday destination and also offers plenty of business opportunities he says in this report.  Take a look at TNU ON TOUR November.

"Flight time is seven hours ten minutes in a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from Heathrow to Muscat, the capital.  It is just that little bit further than Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE, not over-developed and as a country with much more visible history than most of the other states in the region.

Oman Air (WY) is the only operator from the UK to Oman.  

Flights from Manchester were discontinued with the pandemic and are unlikely to come back in the foreseeable future. There is a code share with British Airways and the airline has begun the process of joining oneworld, sponsored by Middle East competitor Qatar Airways (QR).

Terminal 4 is the easiest to use at Heathrow and now has the benefits of the Elizabeth Line.  The WY check-in facility is usually the nearest one to the ‘airside’ security gates and the 20:05 daily departure means little queues even for Economy.  The airline uses the excellent Gulf Air lounge.
 
Oman Air currently flies to 50 destinations in 27 countries using a fleet of Boeing 737, Boeing 787 and soon to be gone Airbus A330 aircraft.  A new airport terminal, 20 miles from Muscat, opened in 2018, and is most impressive with separate First and Business Class lounges, and a common very well-equipped Spa.  Those in the front of the aircraft benefit from 30 minutes free treatment and the dining in both areas is superb, self-service in Business, and a waiter for First.  

TNU’s senior contact at the airline’s headquarters, Aboudy Nasser, Chief Commercial Officer, is a Brit, recently appointed, and for him a return to the airline where he was Senior Vice President Planning and Revenue Management (2015–2018).  His 20 years in the industry includes spells at British Airways and the Manchester Airports Group.  

My lead question was very simple “When can we expect to see Oman Air officially join the oneworld alliance?”

He was very clear in responding.  “It’s not as easy as it seems.  You need to take an IT system which has been designed to work on a stand-alone basis and integrate it to pull in huge amounts of passenger and network information for partners.  We are working towards the first quarter of 2024,” he said.

The launch date is still pencilled in for 2024, hopefully in the first quarter.

My question: “You will be joining oneworld alongside Royal Jordanian and Qatar Airways. Is the Middle East getting a bit crowded?”

Answer: “Oman Air will only add three new destinations to the oneworld route map – Duqm and Khasab in Oman and Chittagong in Bangladesh.  There are also only three airports where Oman Air has its own lounges – Muscat, Salalah and Bangkok.”

Nasser sees the integration as complementary. Oman Air has scaled back its plans to fly to North America so there is no conflict with Qatar Airways and the two airlines as noted have an existing partnership.

Oman Air is state-owned with its simple objective to promote Oman.  Whilst connecting traffic is not turned away, the function is to promote the Kingdom, hence the oneworld membership.  As noted in my previous reports the many attractions include a very friendly welcome and outlook plus an abundance of beaches, desert and unique mountain resorts.  Top quality hotels too.

Jumeirah Hotels has recently opened the Jumeirah Muscat Bay. Work is under way on Marriott’s St Regis Al Mouj Resort, due for 2024. Existing luxury resorts include The Chedi, the long-established Shangri-La complex and the Al Bustan Palace.  A Mandarin Oriental beach resort is also under construction.  The cruise terminal is being extended but it will take time for it to become a large changeover destination, slightly off the beaten track for the UAE ports.

Oman Air is in the process of replacing its A330 fleet with Boeing 787 Dreamliners.  It is presently carrying 60%–70% of the passengers it was flying in 2019, pre-pandemic. The airport has gone through an ambitious process of redevelopment in recent years. A stunning new terminal combines an Omani architectural flavour with state-of-the-art technology.   

If you are not in a hurry a dedicated Arrivals Lounge is available to Business Class passengers.  It offers a selection of food and non-alcoholic beverages, private shower facilities and space to relax or catch up on work.

Oman Air Business Class offers all front-facing seats and next year will add sliding doors, which should make them even better than Qatar Airways QSuite, half of which are reversed. The cabins are light, sleek, and elegant, with sand-coloured seats and discreet touches of Arabic geometric pattern designs on interior details with Apex Suite by Collins Aerospace, set in a 2+2+2 configuration.

The seats are very comfortable, 22.8 inches wide, with a pitch of 80 inches and a bed length of 76 inches. All have direct aisle access, adjustable headset, control of lumbar support and massage function and a fully lie-flat bed. Everything one would expect of a top-quality airline.

The inflight dining experience in Oman Air Business Class closely resembles what some airlines offer in First Class, ranging from the quality and presentation of food and the individual bread baskets to how tables are beautifully set with exclusive tableware and glasses. Meals are served on linen-lined tables without trays and most dishes are plated on board, leading to a dining experience that looks and feels more like a restaurant than an aircraft cabin.

Business Class passengers benefit from the same ‘dine on demand’ service available to First Class passengers. You eat at a time that suits you.

Menus have been designed to offer East-West fusion cuisine, including Omani specialities such as braised chicken koftas or Arabic mezze. In fact, each flight features one traditional Omani dish to provide passenger with “flavours from the Sultanate”.  

On the London route the menus offer an impressive choice of four appetizers including soup and a salad, three main courses, a selection of farm-house cheeses and three desserts including ice cream.  There is a second simpler affair, a light gourmet platter or continental breakfast but to the same high quality as the main meal.

For some unknown reason in this Muslim country only soft drinks are served boarding out of Heathrow (including a very tasty beetroot-based concoction) but champagne is available on the ramp at Muscat.

Business Class passengers are offered pre-departure Omani coffee (Kahwa) from a traditional Arabic coffee pot accompanied by Omani dates (a popular offering on Gulf airlines, although sometimes the preserve of First Class).

Inflight service is well-polished, professional and crews speak excellent English. Unlike the larger airlines based in the Middle East where you seldom encounter locals working as cabin crew, crew on Oman Air are mostly Omani and provide genuine Arabic hospitality.  The emphasis is to use nationals, even on the flight deck.

Oman Air female cabin crew wear a delightful turquoise uniform – inspired by the Sea of Oman – with a small hat and veil. The style evokes the old school elegance of a bygone era of air travel.

The entertainment system on Oman Air is called Aria. It comprises a 17-inch personal monitor controlled by the touch screen remote control and a pair of basic unbranded noise-cancelling headphones. You can expect the latest film releases, television boxsets, games and various audio options.

Wi-fi is available. There are two USB ports on every seat, laptop power and an adjustable personal reading light.

Business Class passengers receive well-stocked amenity kits by Amouage – the Omani luxury fragrance brand – featuring large-sized containers of body lotion, facial moisturiser and lip balm. There is also a Colgate dental kit, shaving kit, mouthwash, silk eyeshades, hairbrush, socks and earplugs.  Passengers receive quilted duvets and fluffy pillows, slippers and a cotton sleeper suit.

First Class is of just two rows, 1+2+1 in fully enclosed suites with a drop central panel for the middle pair. Service is explementary with a number of culinary delights including Ossetra Caviar and a simply amazing Arabic mezze, all prepared according to Halal requirements".  

www.omanair.com

https://visitoman.om

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