As Oman Air continues its fleet and network expansion program, it has confirmed its commitment to further increasing customer choice by operating a range of codeshare partnerships. The national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman is currently increasing the size of its fleet and will operate 25 wide-body and 45 narrow-body aircraft by 2020. It is also launching new services to exciting destinations around the world – the most recent of which are to Manila, Jakarta, Goa and Singapore. However, the airline aims to offer even greater choice and convenience for customers by working in partnership with other airlines which operate to similarly high quality standards as Oman Air. The resulting codeshare partnerships have in recent years seen Oman Air offer flights to many more destinations. They have also given the customers of partner airlines the opportunity to experience Oman Air's award-winning passenger experience. Oman Air currently operates nine codeshare partnerships, which cover destinations in the Middle East, South and South East Asia, Africa and Europe. The partnership with Emirates Airlines covers services between Dubai and Muscat, whilst that with Qatar Airways enables customers to fly to Doha from any of the 46 departure points within Oman Air's network. A codeshare with Ethiopian Airlines allows Oman Air's customers to book flights between Muscat and Addis Ababa. Meanwhile, a similar arrangement with Royal Jordanian enables that airline's customers to fly with Oman Air between Muscat and Amman and vice versa (v.v). Istanbul has been added to Oman Air's network as a result of a codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines. The flights between Muscat and Istanbul v.v. can now be booked by Oman Air's customers. And Sri Lankan Airlines' customers can now book to fly aboard Oman Air's aircraft between Colombo and Zurich via Muscat v.v. At the same time, Oman Air's customers can book with Sri Lankan Airlines from Muscat to Singapore, Male, via Colombo v.v. The partnership with Malaysian Airlines enables Oman Air's customers to fly between Muscat and Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu, Penang, Kuching, Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong via Kuala Lumpur v.v. Malaysian Airlines' customers can enjoy non-stop flights between Kuala Lumpur and Muscat v.v. This partnership also provides passengers with more flight options between Muscat and Dubai/Kuwait v.v. Oman Air's most recent launched codeshares operations with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Garuda Indonesia. The agreement with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines came into effect in April 2015 which enables Oman Air's customers to book onto flights operated by KLM between Muscat and Amsterdam v.v. Launched in June 2015, the codeshare with Garuda Indonesia enables Oman Air's customers to book flights, between Jakarta and Bali, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok v.v. Those flights are operated by Garuda Indonesia. In turn, Garuda Indonesia's customers are able to book flights, between Muscat and Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta or Salalah v.v. Those services are operated by Oman Air. Codeshare agreements bring clear benefits for Oman Air's Customers and those of its partners. They are an effective way of expanding the range of choices offered by Oman Air, and of introducing the Oman Air passenger experience to many more air travellers. The codeshares have been warmly welcomed by Oman Air's customers, who have also appreciated the care taken by Oman Air to partner with airlines which share its commitment to quality and service. Including codeshare destinations, Oman Air now offers 56 exciting global destinations. And as the expansion program continues, Oman Air will not only be unveiling more of its own destinations, but will also be looking to develop further codeshare agreements. — SG
