The Oman national football team arrived in the UK in style on Tuesday 4th September, in advance of their friendly international match against the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday 11th September.
The side flew from Muscat to Heathrow aboard Oman Air's award-winning Airbus A330, enjoying the Omani national carrier's "World's Best Business Class Airline Seat" (World Airline Awards 2011 and 2012) and making the most of the airline's legendary hospitality.
Oman Air's Chief Executive Officer, Wayne Pearce, wished the team well for the match, saying: "As the Key Partner for the Oman national team, and official carrier of the Oman Football Association, Oman Air is proud to be supporting Oman's national team on its visit to the UK. We wish every member of the side success in their match against the Republic of Ireland and we hope that the comfort, relaxation and high standard of service that they experience on their flight will help prepare them for the game."
The Omani team on arrival in the UK will focus on pre-match training at Surrey Sports Park and at Fulham's Motspur Park training ground, including a match against Fulham's under-21 side on Friday 7th September. During their preparation training, the team will be wearing Oman Air-branded shirts. The match against the Republic of Ireland will take place on Tuesday 11th September, at Fulham's Craven Cottage stadium.
Oman Air's sponsorship of the Oman national team builds on the success of the airline's support for other Omani sporting stars. Motorsports ace Ahmad Al Harthy, driving for the Oman Air Racing Team, currently leads the table in the Pro-Am 1 division of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship, and Oman Air's team in the Extreme 40s sailing challenge has achieved superb results throughout this season, including their outright win last week-end in Cardiff, Wales.
Wayne Pearce adds:"As the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, we are committed to supporting the nation's young talent to achieve their full potential, and to showcasing the very best of Omani endeavour. Football is the national game in Oman, with passionate support being offered by the Sultanate's many thousands of fans, and the national team has made great progress over recent years. So it is natural for Oman Air to do everything it can to help the team achieve further success by becoming a major sponsor and helping to bring Oman to the attention of a vast international audience. We look forward to a great result on the 11th."
Launched in 2007, the Muscat to London route is the airline's oldest long-haul service and Oman Air remains the only airline to offer daily, non-stop and direct flights between Oman and the UK. Oman Air's network has since expanded to include more than 40 global destinations, served by a fleet of modern Airbus, Boeing and Embraer aircraft. The network grew further on 1st September, with the launch of a new service between Muscat and Tehran. Oman Air is now lauded as a rising star of international air travel with a focus on quality, value and an outstanding passenger experience.
