IATA: Oman Air to Join Oneworld Alliance

Oman Air to Join Oneworld Alliance

Oneworld Governing Board announced that Oman Air will join the alliance membership. The announcement came on the sidelines of World Air Transport Summit (WATS) which followed IATA's Annual General Meeting.

Qatar Airways will act as sponsor for Oman Air's entry into oneworld, providing guidance and support as the airline integrates into the alliance.

Oman Air is expected to be included in oneworld in 2024, following which it will provide the full range of oneworld benefits to customers travelling on its flights.

Members of Oman Air's Sindbad frequent flyer program will be able to earn and redeem miles on all oneworld member airlines, with top tier members receiving additional benefits including lounge access when travelling with other oneworld members, it said.

Oman Air's entry into oneworld will provide even more flights and destinations to customers planning global travel across the alliance's members, making oneworld the only global airline alliance with three members in the Middle East after Qatar Airways and Royal Jordanian. Oman Air's joining will add new destinations to the oneworld network including Duqm and Khasab in Oman and Chittagong (Bangladesh). Oneworld Emerald, oneworld Sapphire and premium cabin customers will also gain access to three Oman Air lounges at Muscat, Salalah and Bangkok.

Amid joining oneworld, Oman Air will be the third new member in the alliance during the last five years which represents another achievement in the rapid growth of the alliance. Royal Air Maroc joined oneworld in April 2020 making it the first full member in the African Continent. Alaska Airlines joined oneworld in March 2021 making oneworld the only global air alliance with two members from the US.

HE Chairman of the oneworld Governing Board and Qatar Airways Group Executive Akbar Al Baker said, "Today marks a new milestone in oneworld, as our friends at Oman Air become a member elect of our award-winning alliance. Passengers of Oman Air will be offered a seamless travel journey, connecting them to more than 900 destinations across 170 countries." Also, he added, "As the Chairman of oneworld, we look forward to welcoming Oman Air into our alliance as they will bring great benefits, allowing passengers to discover not just a new member with an excellent reputation, but a beautiful country." Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Oman Air CEO Eng Abdulaziz Al Raisi expressed his happiness as Oman Air join oneworld alliance. He added that it is great achievement for Oman Air and gives a large space for its passengers to reach 1,200 destinations around the world, and the alliance extends for the next 10 years. Oman Air's admittance into oneworld represents a defining moment in our journey to provide passengers with greater travel options through our developing partnerships and alliances. We're delighted to be joining the world's foremost airline alliance at a time when demand for travel is on the rise, Al Raisi added in his statement.

Al Raisi pointed out that about a year and a half ago, a partnership agreement was signed with Qatar Airways in several areas, in addition to daily flights from Muscat to Doha. He considered that this partnership has enhanced Oman Air's opportunity to be part of the oneworld alliance, as Qatar Airways submitted yesterday the file for Oman Air's entry into the alliance, which obtained the approval of all member companies of the alliance's board of directors, due to their great knowledge of the value represented by Oman Air in the global aviation sector, and business class.

Oneworld CEO Rob Gurney said that they are delighted that Oman Air has chosen oneworld as its global airline alliance partner. With its network in Muscat and award-winning customer service, Oman Air will reinforce their position as the premier airline alliance for global travelers. As the global travel industry continues to recover from the pandemic, the significant growth of oneworld in recent years demonstrates how important alliances and partnerships will continue to be.

Launched in 1993, Oman Air is the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman. From its roots as a domestic airline, it has transformed into an international carrier serving 41 destinations in more than 20 territories. It operates a modern fleet of more than 40 aircraft comprising Boeing 737s, 787s and Airbus A330s. Configured in a two or three-class cabin, Oman Air's aircraft offer exclusive First Class Private Suites on longer-haul flights.

Known for its exceptional in-flight hospitality, the airline has received several awards including most recently the APEX Passenger Choice Award for Best Seat Comfort in the Middle East. Oman Air operates to five oneworld member airline hubs - Amman, Colombo, Doha, Kuala Lumpur and London Heathrow - and already codeshares with four oneworld member airlines: Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian and SriLankan Airlines.

Joining oneworld will pave the way for additional codeshare opportunities, further enhancing global connectivity across the alliance's network. 

Source: QNA