Oman Air returned to World Travel Market in London this month to celebrate five years of operating its flagship daily non-stop and direct route between Muscat and London.
The route was launched in November 2007, initially flying into Gatwick, before switching in 2009 to Heathrow Terminal 3. Over its five years of operation, the route has seen the introduction of brand new Airbus A330 aircraft and the unveiling of Oman Air’s first-ever First Class cabin, the launch of the world’s first full in-flight connectivity with both mobile phone and wifi internet access, and the confirmation of the UK as the source of the greatest number of visitors to the Sultanate of Oman.
Wayne Pearce, Oman Air’s Chief Executive Officer, told TravelPlus: “This route has been a resounding success for Oman Air, confirming London as a flagship destination within our continuously-growing network and underlying the valued and long-established relationship between the two countries.”
Oman Air has also recorded a huge surge in traffic between Muscat and Salalah during the Eid Al Adha holidays this year.
The carrier of the Sultanate of Oman operated 42 extra flights on the domestic route between 19th October and 3rd November 2012, in addition to the 172 scheduled services. Thus, the total number of flights reached 214, which represents 92 flights more than last year’s total flights during the same period. The total number offered seats was 28441 seats – almost 10,000 more seats than over the same period last year. 23255 passengers flew on the route, an increase of about 8295 compared with the similar period in 2011.
Wayne Pearce speaking to TravelPlus said “Oman Air continues to promote Salalah as an ideal year-round destination for visitors from both within Oman and further afield, and to serving the needs of the people living in the Dhofar region. We are therefore delighted that we have been able to offer additional flights and outstanding deals, thus encouraging many more people to fly with Oman Air and experience the beauty and hospitality that Salalah and Dhofar have to offer.”
Salalah is the ancient principal town in the southern-most Omani Governorate of Dhofar. For hundreds of years it has been a vital trading centre and home to the region’s frankincense trade. Located between precipitous mountains and the Indian Ocean, the area enjoys a monsoon season unique to southern Arabia and known as the Khareef.
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