Date: 5 Nov 2007

Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, and one of the international airlines experiencing steady growth in all its air operations, intends launching flights to the Far East. As of November 28, 2007, the carrier will operate five direct flights a week between Muscat and Bangkok.

In this regard, Ziad Bin Karim Al Haremi, Oman Aviation Services ( Oman Air ) CEO said that launching services to Bangkok is in response to market demand for direct and reliable services between the Muscat and Asia Pacific. Oman Air operations to Bangkok will improve business relations between our two friendly nations. There are immense investment opportunities in the Sultanate and the continent’s many attractive tourist facilities will now be directly accessible to people in Asia, he added. We have selected Thailand as our base for expansion into the region and want to take advantage of the opportunities it can harness from the boom in passenger traffic through the new Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Al Haremi added that the importance we give to Thailand is evident by the fact that it has been preferred to be our first destination to the Far East, adding that the Suvarnabhumi airport's higher passenger handling capacity was among the key reasons for this decision. He further stated, “We expect to see higher load factor after the initial launch”. He said that with the ongoing expansion witnessed in our network to reach more destinations to serve Oman, Oman Air would become the logical choice for customers flying for leisure or business to the Sultanate.

"We are going to work in every way to try to increase the presence in Asia Pacific, and will look at tapping all the markets. He said that increasing economic relations between Oman and Thailand, had resulted in a marked increase in business and tourist traffic between the two countries, which requires enhanced connectivity, saying that Oman Air Bangkok flights would not only link the two capital cities but also offer convenient connections to Bangkok and onward to other cities we operate to. “Oman Air will continue to introduce more new destinations, increase frequencies, and extend its route network as part of its strategy to make air travel convenient choice for everyone. We really believe down east the market is huge.

People want more choices and they will find it, we only make it available and easier for them. We hope to stimulate passenger traffic both ways and further boost the tourism industry for both Oman and Bangkok." Al Haremi concluded. Corporate Communications & Media Department of Oman Air stated that, “Oman Air will be using on the Far East Long haul destination its modern and comfortable Boeing 767, as the company currently operates a fleet that includes 14 aircraft operating from our main headquarters in Muscat the Omani capital. 8 out of which, are the new Generation Boeing 737- 800 and 700.

in additional to Airbus A330 & Boeing 767.The Company fleet will consist by the end of 2011 of - Boeing 737-800 - 10 Aircrafts (By end March 09), and Airbus A330 9 Aircrafts (Mix of dash 300 & dash 200)”. “Oman Air, The Sultanate of Oman flagship carrier also has signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire six (6) Boeing B787 Dreamliner aircraft from ALAFCO Aviation Lease And Finance Company. Oman Air would be the first airline in the Gulf region to undergo such move to obtain the Dreamliner aircrafts, which are expected to be delivered to the carrier in 2012, 2014, and 2015.

Oman Air said the 787 would upgrade its existing fleet, as well as provide for fleet growth to meet its future aggressive expanding plans” the department added. It should be noted that the Oman Air would inaugurate operations to London on November 26, 2007. With the inauguration of Bangkok, the national carrier of the Sultanate will be operating 25 destinations. 

Date : 5 11, 2007