Oman Air, the national airline of the Sultanate of Oman, was established in 1993. The airline is headquartered at Muscat International Airport in Seeb, Muscat, and it operates both domestic and international passenger services, along with charter and regional air taxi flights.

Historical Background

Oman Air's origins date back to 1970 when Oman International Services (OIS) was founded. Initially, OIS served as a civil aircraft ground handling service at Neit Al Falaj Airport. In 1972, Oman International Services relocated its operations to the new terminal at Seeb International Airport. The company's growth continued as it took over Gulf Air's light aircraft division in 1977. This expansion prompted the development of various facilities, including workshops, in-flight catering, and hangars.

In 1981, Oman Aviation Services became a joint-stock company and acquired 13 aircraft from Gulf Air. This allowed the company to replace its turboprops with the Fokker 27-500 series. The same year, Oman Aviation Services introduced jet services in partnership with Gulf Air to Salalah. Additional investments in equipment, such as the Cessna Citation from 1983 to 1993, further enhanced their services.

Foundation and Early Operations

Oman Air officially commenced operations in March, leasing a Boeing 737-300 from AWAS for flights between Muscat and Salalah. In July 1993, the airline operated its first international flight to Dubai, followed by routes to Trivandrum in November, and destinations including Kuwait, Karachi, and Colombo in January 1994. In 1995, two Airbus A320s were wet-leased from Region Air of Singapore, expanding their services to Dhaka, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Chennai, and Mumbai from 1995 to 1997. Oman Air joined the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in October 1998, and by the end of that year, they had added routes to Jeddah, Al Ain, Peshawar, and Gwadar to their network.

Recapitalization and Expansion

In March 2007, the Omani government increased its shareholding in Oman Air from 33% to 80%, recapitalizing the airline. This move was followed by strategic expansion plans, including an order for five Airbus A330 aircraft from Airbus in April 2007, with deliveries starting in 2009. The airline further expanded its fleet by ordering three A330-300s and two A330-200s at the 2009 Dubai Air Show. Additionally, they announced plans to lease two A330-200s from Jet Airways in February 2009. During the same Dubai Air Show, Oman Air placed an order for five Embraer 175 aircraft and secured five additional options.

Development from 2010 Onwards

By November 2010, the Omani Government held nearly 99.8% of the stake in the airline. In 2010, Maitha Al Mahrouqi was appointed as the country manager. In 2011, Oman Air achieved recognition by winning the Gold Award for "Airline of the Year."

In September 2013, the CEO announced plans for the airline to have a fleet of 50 aircraft by 2017. Oman Air revealed its intent to phase out smaller aircraft in favor of an all-Airbus and Boeing fleet in April 2015. In April 2017, the airline announced plans to replace its A330s with Airbus A350s or Boeing 787s. It received the "Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East" award in July 2017.

Furthermore, in September of the same year, Oman Air was honored with the "Best Airline in Europe and the Middle East and Africa" title by the Seven Star Luxury Lifestyle and Hospitality Awards. In June 2019, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) granted Oman Air level 4 New Distribution Capability certification, making it one of the first airlines to operate based on the latest standards. In August 2017, Oman Air expanded its codeshare partnership with Kenya Airways.