Breaking Travel News interview: Abdulaziz Al Raisi, chief executive, Oman Air | Focus

As the Middle East winners are unveiled at the Environment Journey Awards, Breaking Journey Information speaks to Abdulaziz Al Raisi, main executive of Oman Air, about having a amount of major titles.

Breaking Journey News: The place does Oman Air stand with rebuilding its community in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic? Are departures near to reaching 2019 amounts?

Abdulaziz Al Raisi: The significant reduction in world passenger desire caused by the pandemic as properly as journey constraints across our network have led to a short-term suspension of some of our routes, and restricted frequency on remaining routes.

As vaccination rates choose up globally, we aim to increasingly reopen our routes – nevertheless, this will rely on the soothing of journey limits around the globe and the gradual restoration of world wide need for air vacation.

We will also continue on to strengthen interactions with our codeshare companions to provide our guests even a lot more destinations to fly to.

Our principal aim is to identify routes that join Oman to the entire world, add to Oman’s economic system, and advertise tourism, company vacation to Oman and Oman as a location.

Eventually, we prepare on streamlining our fleet of aircraft by changing and retiring more mature plane with newer aircraft supplying higher gas effectiveness and fewer emissions even though boosting passenger comfort.

BTN: What actions are Oman Air getting to preserve passengers harmless in the wake of the pandemic?

AAR: Elevated wellbeing and safety specifications have been an integral element of Oman Air’s guest expertise because the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic early previous year, and have due to the fact remained at the forefront of the airline’s operational priorities.

Oman Air was fast to react to the health and fitness challenges brought about by the pandemic – not only on board our aircraft but throughout our whole visitor expertise – and safeguarding the flying general public in the confront of unparalleled crisis proceeds to guidebook the airline’s restoration options and reassures our passengers that they can fly with self-assurance.

Oman Air and our holidays division proudly show the Safe and sound Travels stamp from the World Vacation & Tourism Council (WTTC).

BTN: The provider just lately boosted flights to Salalah for the Khareef year – how critical is domestic tourism to the provider?

AAR: Domestic tourism in Oman is an vital component of our business enterprise, in particular in Khasab, a preferred port city on northern Oman’s breath-having Musandam peninsula, and Salalah in Oman’s southern Dhofar province, a spot renowned for its magnificent seashores and lush, environmentally friendly landscape all through monsoon season (Khareef).

Each locations are huge draws amid tourists in the GCC as effectively as Europeans in research of distinctive experiences in the Middle East.

The two locations are simply obtainable from Muscat Worldwide Airport, with relatively small traveling periods earning them ideal for working day outings or right away stays.

As infrastructure projects in other components of Oman are completed, we be expecting to see improved demand for domestic travel—both between locals wanting to examine their have yard, and worldwide travellers looking for to enterprise further than Muscat. 

BTN: Oman Air has been honoured with the titles of Center East’s Leading Airline – Shopper Expertise and Middle East’s Foremost Airline at the Environment Journey Awards – how does it really feel to have taken such prestigious titles?

AAR: We are incredibly honoured and happy of this prestigious win which confirms Oman Air’s difficult work to present an remarkable vacation knowledge to its visitors.

This gain will encourage our dedicated group to keep on ensuring that each and every Oman Air passenger experiences the best attainable solutions and expert services.

BTN: What do you feel it was that caught the eye of voters – what is it that separates Oman Air from its opponents in the region?

AAR: Oman Air gives a unique expression of Omani hospitality, lifestyle and id.

We also target on every single element of the passenger expertise to present a top quality and personal travel journey that fulfills the desires of our visitors.

This is what distinguishes Oman Air from its competitors.

BTN: Oman not long ago outlined its eyesight for 2040, building a diversified overall economy to face the future. Exactly where does Oman Air, as the nationwide provider in shape into the plan?

AAR: Vision 2040 envisions tourism as 1 of the essential pillars of financial diversification.

The sultanate’s attractiveness as a tourist spot is very clear: an enviable site amongst Asia, Africa and Europe puts two third of the world’s populace inside 8 hours flying time, one particular 3rd in just four the sultanate is a person of the most secure and most secure sites in the earth – not just in the region – and delivers outstanding nature, local climate, leisure, society and record.

Oman Air performs a important job in Oman’s Eyesight 2040 method by connecting inbound travelers from resource international marketplaces to Oman’s tourism ecosystem.

Aviation feeds the tourism sector as significantly as tourism feeds aviation, and the two sectors share a popular aim – entice extra international travellers to Oman and diversify the economic system for sustainable advancement.

Extra Details

Obtain out far more about the award-winning Oman Air on the formal web page.