Oman Air is betting big on India. Dropping broad hints to this effect, its Chief Executive Officer Paul Gregorowitsch said: “India is one of our most important territories.”
Addressing travel agents and key commercial partners in Mumbai recently, he said, “The size of India, the scale of its population and its increasing prosperity make the country an essential market for any international business.” These factors combined with ‘a dynamic travel industry and forward-thinking aviation sector’ to make India attractive for Oman Air.
Since its first international service in November 1993 to Thiruvananthapuram, Oman Air has begun services to 10 more destinations in India — six of which are served by double-daily services. “In total, Oman Air operates 126 flights per week between the Muscat and destinations in India,” he added.
Large diaspora “As the economy of India — the seventh largest in the world — continues to thrive, more Indian travellers are exploring the world. Further, India’s global diaspora is huge, and, in Oman, they constitute the largest expatriate community,” he said. Both Oman and India had agreed to increase the number of flights between the two countries, he said. Oman Air added Goa to its destination last year. He said that the possibility of Oman Air adding more destinations “is under constant consideration.”
These observations assume significance in view of India enhancing bilateral traffic rights with Oman last November, increasing the number of weekly seats for the carriers of the two countries by 5,131. Also, three major Gulf carriers — Emirates, Etihad (partnering with Jet Airways) and Qatar Airways — command a sizeable share in India's international traffic.
