In a recent ceremony held at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), Oman Air was thanked and commended for extending its support to the Oman Pavilion national initiative throughout Expo 2020 Dubai by His Excellency Qais Mohamed Al Yousef, Oman Minister of Commerce & Industry & Investment Promotion. On hand to receive an official certificate of appreciation from His Excellency was Dr. Khalid Al Balushi (PhD), Senior Manager Government Affairs at Oman Air. Oman Air’s longstanding commitment to national projects underscores the airline’s vital role in the Sultanate’s broader tourism strategy and its ongoing participation in the realization of Oman Vision 2040 objectives as a key enabler of travel into the country—linking Oman to important source tourist markets regionally and internationally. The Oman pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai was an exceptional opportunity to showcase the Sultanate’s deep connection to frankincense while promoting the country’s benefits as a truly distinct travel destination in the Middle East. As national carrier, Oman Air, along with several other public and private institutions, was active at the Oman pavilion to support projects and community programs. “The link between aviation and tourism development is significant and the role of airlines as enablers in the broader tourism ecosystem is especially significant given the challenges facing post-pandemic travel,” said Eng. Abdulaziz Al Raisi, Chief Executive Officer, Oman Air. “As the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, our readiness to support important tourism and country branding projects is absolute, and our presence throughout Expo 2020 Dubai was a national initiative we were delighted to take part in, and one which contributes to Oman’s economic development in travel-related sectors.” In addition to boosting flight frequencies on its Muscat-Dubai corridor, Oman Air established an on-site presence at the Oman pavilion for six months. In conjunction with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, its team was on hand to promote the airline’s connectivity to Oman and respond to visitor enquiries; it was actively involved in supporting Oman National Day, the arrival of the Oman Youth Ship at the Dubai Tourism Port, Omani Youth Day, Omani Women’s Day, World Education Day, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, International Film Day, World Education Day, International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and the closing ceremony for Expo 2020 Dubai. T o facilitate travel to and from Expo 2020 Dubai for 200 youth volunteers, Oman Air offered subsidized tickets and streamlined its departure and return procedures at airports in Muscat and Dubai. Parallel to activities and events throughout Expo 2020 Dubai, and in line with its commitment to support economic activities that benefit the local community, Oman Air signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tayseer, the commercial platform tasked with managing the mini-commercial centre at Expo 2020 Dubai and providing shipping services and travel for affiliate SMEs.

Oman Air will continue to strengthen strategic codeshare partnership agreements to maximize its post-pandemic growth trajectory. The airline’s ongoing recovery calls for greater codeshare connectivity to offers passengers better connections and a wider choice of destinations from its hub in Muscat. Oman Air has built a healthy network throughout the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent, as well as several cities in Europe, South Asia and Africa in recent years and is focused on growing additional connectivity to North and South America and Australia through strategic codeshares with its 18 partner airlines. These include Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Garuda Indonesia, Gulf Air, Royal Dutch Airlines KLM, Kenya Airways, Kuwait Airways, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, SalamAir, Bangkok Airways, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Saudia, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, and Egyptair. Currently, Oman Air operates 46 codeshare sectors and markets an additional 219 codeshare sectors on six continents through its partners for a total of 265 sectors. “Providing access to more destinations underpins our business operations and growth strategy as we gradually emerge from the global pandemic and look for new ways to offer our valued guests greater travel convenience and connectivity,” said Eng. Abdulaziz Al Raisi, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air. “Together with our codeshare partners, we continue to grow our network reach out of Muscat while offering reciprocal connectivity for passengers flying to the Sultanate of Oman. Strategic codeshare agreements make sense at a time when airlines around the world are facing tremendous challenges, and Oman Air understands that now, more than ever, seamless connectivity is a deciding factor for passengers when it comes to booking.” To date, Qatar Airways remains Oman Air’s biggest codeshare partner. In December 2020, Oman Air and Qatar Airways announced greater cooperation that would allow both airlines to expand commercial operations, boost connectivity and enhance travel options. In November this year, both airlines announced a reciprocal loyalty partnership whereby members of Oman Air Sindbad Program and Qatar Airways Privilege Club can earn and redeem miles for travel on both airlines between Muscat and Doha in either direction.

With the approach of the peak summer season, Oman Air Holidays has introduced a range of great value packages from Muscat to destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Far East. With special rates starting from as little as OMR 234, as well as customisable add-ons, guests are provided with affordable and convenient options to plan their dream holiday, whether it’s a beach retreat, adventure trip, city break, or cultural experience. Meanwhile, catering to rising demand, Oman Air has also increased its flights to some of the most popular destinations including five flights a day to Dubai and 18 flights a week to Bangkok. Guests can also enjoy increased frequencies and seamless connectivity to Kuala Lumpur, the Maldives, and many more. Mundher Al Shaikhani, Acting Vice President – Marketing at Oman Air, said, “This year, travel has picked up considerably and, as people eagerly anticipate their much-awaited summer vacation, we are making sure to accommodate their travel requirements. In line with the airline’s addition of several new flights, we’re pleased to have curated an extensive selection of packages so that guests have the freedom to choose their travel plans according to their unique interests and preferences. Supported by our dedicated customer service, we guarantee that our packages are worth every baisa.” Offering a wide selection of tailored packages, Oman Air Holidays excels in creating amazing and unique travel experiences to some of the world’s most exciting destinations. Meanwhile, Oman Air continues to invest in its award-winning products and services, offering guests innovative cabin design, exceptional hospitality, and a growing range of destinations from its hub in Muscat. To book a package, visit holidays.omanair.com. For flights, visit omanair.com.