Oman Air is pleased to announce the launch, on 20th June 2013, of a new service between Salalah, in the southern Omani region of Dhofar, and Jeddah, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
An official ceremony, hosted by His Excellency Al Sheik Salim Ufait Al Shanfari, Chairman of Dhofar Municipality, was held to mark the launch at Salalah Airport, in the presence of Abdulrazaq bin Juma Alraisi, Chief Commercial Officer at Oman Air. They were joined by delegates from the Government and Private sectors, in addition to a number of local media outlets and members of Oman Air’s senior management team.
Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Amri, Country Manager Oman said: “The new service will complement the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman’s existing Muscat-Jeddah service and contribute to Salalah’s growing importance as an international destination, building on the success Oman Air’s Salalah-Dubai route, which was re-launched in 2012.”
The new Salalah-Jeddah service has been unveiled to give air travellers within the Gulf greater opportunities to experience the unique landscapes and rich culture of southern Oman, particularly during the Khareef season.
Najam bin Abdullah Al-Ghassani, District Sales Manager Salalah, added: “The Khareef is the monsoon season that is unique to the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula and brings cooling rains and relief from the heat of summer, as well as transforming the landscape with a profusion of greenery and bright flowers. The Khareef has proved to be an increasingly popular draw for tourists from throughout the Middle East and from further afield.”
The new service will offer flights from Salalah to Jeddah on Thursdays and Saturdays (departing 10.30, arriving 13.10) and from Jeddah to Salalah (departing 14.20, arriving 18.50).
Oman Air’s commitment to increasing tourism traffic to Salalah is paralleled by its expansion across the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Africa. In September 2012, it launched a new route between Muscat and Tehran, whilst recent codeshare agreements with Qatar Airways and Ethiopian Airlines have further increased its reach. Further announcements about new routes and codeshare agreements are expected over the course of 2013.
