Oman Air looks to tap Indian market for growth

The Dollar Business Bureau 

Oman’s national airline Oman Air expects to get operational break-even by 2017 end, the company said on Friday.

The flagship carrier of Sultanate of Oman currently operates to 11 destinations in India, and is looking at India’s fastest-growing market to boost its growth momentum.

"Indian economy is going great as well as its aviation market is among the fastest growing. With the new aviation policy being released by the Indian regime, we do not want to exclude ourselves from financial participation in any opportunity offered. It's not like we will put a blind cheque on the table, but will invest if we find the opportunity sustainable," said Paul Gregorowitsch, chief executive officer of Oman Air.

The carrier has been running its operations on government funds since its start in 1993. Gregorowitsch said it would become a non-subsidised airline by 2018, as many Middle East countries are looking to cut their expenditure in the backdrop of fallen oil prices.

"Due to the change in the oil market, the dynamics are changing. We (Oman Air) will completely become a non-subsidised airline by 2018,” he said.

The airline currently has 18 Boeing 737-800, six Airbus 330-300s, five Boeing 737-900S, four Boeing 787 Dreamliners, four Airbus 330-200S, four Embraer 175s and one Boeing 737-700.

Oman Air will add four more Boeing Dreamliners in its fleet soon. The company expects to increase its total fleet from its current 57 aircrafts to about 70 aircraft by 2020.