__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Monday, April 1, 2013

► OMAN: Oman Air looks to expand Africa network as part of efforts to become profitable.

Oman Air logoOmani national carrier, Oman Air (WY), is planning to increase its services to Africa - with Casablanca first in line - as part of its plan to become profitable. The move comes after the airline posted a loss of USD253million (OMR97.47million) for 2012.

Oman Air in Zanzibar
Oman Air in Zanzibar
(in2eastafrica)
According to Oman Air chairman, Darwish Ismail Al-Balushi, the airline is looking to add new destinations such as Manila and Jakarta by June 2013 and Casablanca later this year or in early 2014. It is also planning to increase the number of flights it makes to London and to add more destination cities in Africa, though no specific time-lines have been given.

Currently, Oman Air's Africa network consists of only Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.

WY also has plans to increase its cargo business while at the same time launching a budget airline to handle regional and domestic flights, as it struggles to emerge from the shadow of fellow Gulf carriers Emirates (EK), Etihad (EY) and Qatar Airways (QR) who dominate the region.