Middle Eastern carrier Oman Air has been approved as a member designate of the Oneworld alliance.
The carrier will formally join the 3rd largest global airline alliance in 2024 once it completes its integration with other partner carriers.
Welcome to the club
Oman Air announced its plans to join the alliance in September 2021 and has finally completed the bulk of the process in order to officially join in two years.
By joining Oneworld, stylised oneworld, the national airline of Oman will become the third Middle Eastern member of the alliance behind Qatar Airways – the first Gulf carrier to join oneworld and its sponsor – and Royal Jordanian, the flag carrier airline of Jordan.
Oman Air’s entry makes oneworld the only global airline alliance with three members in the Middle East.
Oman Air was elected as a oneworld member designate in Doha by the oneworld Governing Board, comprising the Chief Executives of all oneworld member airlines.
Qatar Airways, whose CEO Akbar Al Baker is also oneworld’s Chairman, will act as a sponsor for Oman Air’s entry into the alliance and will offer appropriate support as the airline integrates into the alliance.
Once the Muscat-based carrier is fully integrated into oneworld in 2024, its customers will be able to experience the full range of oneworld benefits on flights. Members of Oman Air’s Sindbad frequent flyer programme will be able to earn and redeem miles on all oneworld member airlines including the likes of American Airlines, British Airways, Malaysia Airlines, and Finnair.
Rob Gurney, oneworld CEO, said:
“We are delighted that Oman Air has chosen oneworld as its global airline alliance partner. With its network in Muscat and award-winning customer service, Oman Air will reinforce our position as the premier airline alliance for global travellers. As the global travel industry continues to recover from the pandemic, the significant growth of oneworld in recent years demonstrates how important alliances and partnerships will continue to be.”
Oman Air CEO Abdulaziz Al Raisi added to Gurney’s positive comments and commented on how these developments are a defining moment in the carrier’s progression in opening up to the world:
“Oman Air’s admittance into oneworld represents a defining moment in our journey to provide passengers with greater travel options through our developing partnerships and alliances. We’re delighted to be joining the world’s foremost airline alliance at a time when demand for travel is on the rise. We look forward to welcoming oneworld members onboard Oman Air to experience the height of Omani hospitality and all that the Sultanate of Oman has to offer in terms of history, culture and natural beauty.”
In a statement published on the carrier’s website, Oman Air states that its entry into the alliance will allow the carrier to offer more flights and destinations to travellers who wish to travel across the alliance’s members.
Its entry also brings new destinations to the oneworld network including Bangladesh, Duqm, and Khasab in Oman.
The carrier already operates to five-member airline hubs – Amman, Colombo, Doha, Kuala Lumpur, and London Heathrow and has codeshare agreements with four members of the alliance – Malaysia Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Royal Jordanian. The carrier believes that joining the alliance will allow for more codeshare opportunities with other airlines, thereby expanding its network across the globe.
What do you make of this story? Let us know in the comments below.
