History

Oman Air can look back on an eventful history. It includes many glorious moments but the course of events has not always been smooth. History is always a reflection of people and their times. The challenges facing air transport have become increasingly complex, yet Oman Air has always found the strength to learn and renew itself. That ability has earned the company its leading position in the international airline business.

Oman Air’s origins date back to 1993. Since then, we have been maintaining a very high standard of professionalism. Little wonder, Oman Air has created a niche for itself on all operating routes. The company with its team of dedicated and skilled workforce has earned an enviable reputation in the region.

Oman Air plays a major role in making Muscat a major traffic hub in the Middle East providing a fillip to commercial, industrial and tourism activities. Today, Oman Air is becoming an increasingly familiar sight at international airports.

The Oman Air fleet is a modern and fuel- efficient aircraft with aesthetically designed interiors. Ultra- modern in-flight service equipment is deployed onboard to improve safety and overall performance. Investment in new technology, planning and product innovation has propelled Oman Air to the forefront of the aviation industry.

Oman Air- the designated carrier of the Sultanate of Oman is recognized for its strong market presence and respected for its professionalism and recommended for its punctuality and service excellence.

Date	Event
1970	Oman International Services (OIS) commences civil aircraft handling services at the old Beit Al Falaj Airport.
1972	Seeb International Airport building partly completed.
1972	Oman International Services (OIS) moves to the new terminal at Seeb International Airport to provide better services.
1973	Passenger terminal at Seeb completed, leading to rapid expansion of civil aviation activity.
1977	OIS takes over Gulf Air’s Light Aircraft Division.
1977	Aircraft Engineering Division Established.
1978	Purpose-built hangars and workshops in use.
1980	In-flight catering facility built to meet the increasing catering demands of international airlines.
1981	Oman Aviation Service (OAS) founded as a Joint Stock Company.
	Thirteen aircraft purchased from Gulf Air (Light Aircraft Division).
	Fokker F27-600 aircraft replaced with new F27-500 series.
1982	OAS commence jet air services to Salalah in joint venture with Gulf Air.
1984	First Jet aircraft, Cessna Citation, purchased. Ground services for domestic flights turned over to OAS.
1987	Advent of Departure Control System (DCS) at Seeb provided by Gulf Air and hosted by British Airways.
1992	New Air Cargo Complex built at Seeb International Airport
1993	Oman Air established.
	Inaugural flight of new airline takes of for Salalah (March).
	First Oman Air international flight, to Dubai, on leased Boeing 737-300 (July).
	First Oman Air flight to subcontinent, to Trivandrum (November).
	Automated Baggage tags, auto tickets, boarding pass printers, intelligent gate readers installed at Seeb International Airport.
1994	Oman Air commences flights to Kuwait.(January).
	Oman Air commences flights to Karachi (January).
	First Flight to Sri Lanka, Colombo,(October),(past destinations have stopped).
	Sophisticated intercom system installed in all Ground Services areas.
1995	Introduction of Trunked Radio System.
1995	Oman Air commences flights to Mumbai, India.( July).
1996	First Flight to Bangladesh, Dhaka.(September).
	Oman Air dedicated cargo operations setup.
	Block Space Agreement with Swiss Air to Zurich.
1997	Oman Air Commences flights to Abu Dhabi (May).
	Oman Air flies to Doha, Qatar (.June).
	Code share MCT- DXB/AUH-MCT With KLM.
	Oman Air flies to Chennai, India (June).
1998	Oman Air member OF IATA (October).
	Block space agreement with SR to ZRH, code shareAUH & DXB ( November).
	Services to Amman commence under code-share agreement with Royal Jordanian. Blocked Space agreement with Swissair adds additional services to Abu Dhabi (agreement is cancel).
1999	Two ATR 42-500s purchased.
	Oman Air flies to Gwader (January).
	Oman Air flies to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (January).
	Oman Air flies to Peshawar (July).
	Oman Air introduces the third destination in the UAE, Al-Ain.
2000	Oman Air opens Wings of Oman Lounge for Business Class Passengers at Seeb International Airport, Oman.
	Duty Free merchandise made available on International Flights and to salalah.
	DHC to KHS replaced with ATR (June).
	Withdraw Karachi & Gwader ( July).
	ATR to SLL night flight for Khareef (July).
	Withdraw Peshawar (October).
	Withdraw of SUH & MSH (November).
	Oman Air introduces new uniform.
2001	Oman Air and Gulf Air signs a code share agreement on Intra Gulf routes and flights from Oman to Bangladesh (past destinations have stopped).
	Oman Air signs a combined purchase and lease deal for a fleet of five brand new Boeing next generation (NG) 737 aircraft.
	Oman Air signs a code share agreement with Sri Lankan Airlines on the route Muscat - Colombo - Muscat.( agreement is cancel).
	Oman Air introduces 4th Indian destination, Oman Air is the first International foreign Airline to fly to Kochi, India (August).
	Boeing 737-800 joins Oman Air's fleet.
2002	Oman Air starts flights to Dar-Es-Salam and Zanzibar (April).
	Oman Air commences operations to Beirut and Mombasa (June).
	Oman Air restart operations to Cairo (July).
2003	Oman Air Flight Operations Training School set up.
	Oman Air adds one more Boeing 737-800 aircraft to its fleet.
	Oman Air stop AlAin (March).
	Start SLL - DXB- SLL Permanent (July).
	IATA awards AHS1000 certificate to OAS as the best handling agent in the gulf for compliance with international ground handling practices.
2004	Oman Air commences scheduled services to Bahrain International Airport (April).
	Oman Air stop Jeddah (June).
	Oman Air stop Abu Dhabi (June).
	Oman Air stop Mombasa (September).
	Oman Air start 4 weekly flight to KWI (September).
2005	ATR stopped flying commercially - only KHS (April).
	Oman Air commences operations to Delhi and Hyderabad in India (May)
	KWI/ DOH/ BAH direct flight ( June).
	Oman Air stop ZNZ (July).
2006	Oman Air commences operations to Amman, (December).
2007	Oman Air commences operations to Chittagong in Bangladesh , Abu Dhabi in UAE and Lucknow in India (May).
	Al Buraimi new 737- 800 join Oman Air (May).
	Oman Air commences operations to Jaipur (June).
	Oman Air commences operations to Jeddah & Riyadh in KSA ( September).
	Oman Air commences operation to Karachi in Pakistan ( October) .
	Oman Air commences operation to London in UK & Bangkok in Thailand ( November) .
2008	Selects Trent 700 Engines to Power Its New Fleet (January).
	Oman Air Unveils Its New Corporate Identity (February).
	Oman Aviation Services (SAOC), has changed its corporate name, henceforth, the new company name will be known as OMAN AIR (SAOC) (21 April).
	Oman Air launch Kozhikode (Calicut) (June).
	Oman Air launch Bangalore (June).
2009	Oman Air’s new A330 Business Class seat Unveiled in ITB Berlin (March).
	Oman Air Received its first Brand new A330-200 (September).
	Oman Air unveils new uniforms (September).
	Oman Air commenced operation to Frankfurt (September).
	Oman Air commenced operation to Munich (October).
	Oman Air introduced its first class seats on its first brand new A330-300 (October).
	Oman Air commenced operation to Male in the Maldives (October).
	Oman Air commenced operation to Paris, France (October).
	Oman Air commenced operations to Colombo, Sri Lanka (November).
	Oman Air signs deal with Lufthansa Teckink to provide technical support (November).
	Oman Air signed a contract with Embraer, for the purchase of five EMBRAER 175 aircraft (November).
2010	Oman Air becomes the 1st airline in the world to introduce both OnAir internet and OnAir Mobile phone service (March).
	Oman Air received its 5th brand new A330 with 3 class configuration (March).
	Oman Air commenced operations to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (May).
	Oman Air commenced operations to Ras Al-Khaima, UAE (May).
	Oman Air commenced operations to Al-Ain, UAE (May).
	Oman Air commenced operations to Lahore, Pakistan (May).
	Oman Air commenced operations to Islamabad, Pakistan (May).
	Oman Air commenced operations to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (June).
	Oman Air received its 6th brand new A330 with 2 class configuration (June).
	Oman Air commenced operations to Dammam, Saudi Arabia (September).
	Oman Air commenced operations to Kathmandu, Nepal (September).
	Oman Air commenced operations to Milan, Italy (December).
2011	Oman Air received its 1st brand new Embraer E175 aircraft with 2 class configuration (March).
	Oman Air received its 2nd brand new Embraer E175 aircraft with 2 class configuration (April).
	Oman Air commenced operations to Zanzibar (May).
	Oman Air received its 7th brand new A330 with 2 class configuration (May).
	Oman Air commenced operations to Zurich (December).
2012	Oman Air commenced operations to Tehran (September).
	Oman Air received its third E-175 Aircraft (September).
	Oman Air received its fourth E-175 Aircraft (November).
	Oman Air received its 14th B737-800 (December).
2013	Oman Air received its 15th B737-800 (January).
2013	Oman Air, has entered into a code share partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, the national carrier of Ethiopia on the Muscat and Addis Ababa sectors. (April)

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